Voices

- Our Voices -

Empowering the individual by honoring her voice

In addition to processing difficult personal experiences, adjusting to a new culture, and going through adolescence, refugee children may also struggle to develop a healthy and positive sense of self. Writing and other forms of personal expression are a means of empowerment. We honor the insights that are given voice on this page:

Amina's Voice

Anousha's Voice

I Just Want Peace

 I JUST WANT PEACE

All my life I just wanted peace

But people called me names

 I felt angry

But the only thing I did was

Sit at my desk and cry

 I JUST WANT PEACE

People made fun of me

But this time I didn’t care

They talked about me

 I just gave them my back

And walked away

I JUST WANT PEACE

I tried to sit quietly

I looked at the teacher but I did not

Know what she was talking about

But I listened to her any way

But I did not ask her any questions

If I did the students would beat me

In the bus

I JUST WANT PEACE

Now I am at GVS

Where you can finish your work

And the student won’t beat you

Laugh at you. call you names

Where you can have a peaceful time.

I JUST WANT PEACE

By Mumina from Kenya, a natural poet who has learned this year that she can do math as well!

Luwho which means "Life"

In Kakuma, life is pain,
I am five and life is pain.
Somali girls beat me,
but I go to school.
My nose bleeds,
but I go to school.
I sit at my desk.
My friend Isha sits near,
“Malimu youno siwedi male,”
she whispers in my ear.
“This teacher is bad.”
“Hekunuwhosumale,”
I whisper.
“I do not care.”
“Naugah kusoma,”
“I need to learn.”
In Decatur, life is shining,

I am sixteen, life is shining,

“Luwho oo na nuri,”
Life is shining.

I can learn.

I work hard and,
maybe,
I go to college.
Rondo, the star I see,
Life is shining.

Amina is a Somali Bantu student from Kenya at the Global Village School for teen survivors of war. Kakuma, which means “nowhere” in Swahili, is a refugee camp of some 70,000 people in northwest Kenya.