In the fifth episode of My Refugee Story, we sat down with Alphonse Munyaneza, a long-serving UNHCR staff member, a refugee and a champion of refugee inclusion. Alphonse’s 32-year experience in field locations across the world with UNHCR made him determined to apply what he had learned about refugee protection and inclusion to the European context. Now based in Brussels, he has pioneered various projects that bring together refugees with local authorities so they can play an active role...

In the fourth episode of My Refugee Story, we chat with Obada Otabashi, a Syrian entrepreneur and founder of ‘We Exist’. Obada arrived in Belgium in 2015 after a long and difficult journey. Explore how his mother’s timeless recipes coupled with his entrepreneurial streak led him to create ‘We Exist’ – a unique restaurant, catering company and hub for newcomers seeking employment opportunities. HOSTOur podcast’s host, Maeve Patterson, has worked with UNHCR since December 2015. She s...

In the third episode of My Refugee Story, we speak with Sofiia, a Ukrainian journalist who found safety in Belgium, and Christophe, the founder of Euractiv who welcomed Sofiia in his home together with his wife. This is their shared tale of solidarity and journalistic desire to tell the real story of people forced to flee. HOSTOur podcast’s host, Maeve Patterson, has worked with UNHCR since December 2015. She served as the head of communications in Brussels and is now based in London.AD...

In the second episode of My Refugee Story, we speak with Mariana Cadenas, a Venezuelan journalist and filmmaker based in Brussels.She found safety in Belgium in 2016 and started processing the emotions that come with fleeing your home through art and storytelling. Her latest project, ‘Exit Tales’, tells the stories of children who were forced to flee their home and how they use their imagination to understand their new reality.HOSTOur podcast’s host, Maeve Patterson, has worked with UNHCR sin...

In the first episode of My Refugee Story, we talk with Abdulazez Dukhan, a talented Syrian photographer and computer science graduate living in Belgium. He and his family came to Belgium through the EU Relocation Scheme after a tough journey which led him from Syria through Turkey and Greece, and finally to Belgium.Starting his photography career in a refugee camp in Greece, he worked on several exciting projects with which he toured all over Belgium. Sit back and get inspired by our first gu...