To amplify the voices and stories of people who have been forced to flee their homes, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched the Refugee Speakers Programme for the third year in a row.
The launch event brought together the participants of this year's programme, UNHCR and coaches from TEDx organizations © UNHCR / Kira Tuominen
Over 114 million people have been forced to flee their homes. Every one of them has a story to tell. All too often, discussions about forced displacement are held without refugees – about refugees but not together with refugees.
“We are seeing quite a backlash in terms of refugee rights and a more populist narrative across many European countries, so it is really important that people feel that they get to know someone and understand the reasons why people are leaving their countries and what are the challenges and opportunities in Sweden”, said Annika Sandlund, the UNHCR Representative to the Nordic and Baltic countries.
UNHCR launched the Refugee Speakers Programme 2024 in Sweden for the third consecutive year, after two successful runs in 2023 and 2022. This year’s participants from Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ukraine were selected through an open-call application process and by the end of the programme will be well equipped to share their personal stories of being forced to flee and of re-building their lives in Sweden.
With the support of coaches from TEDxStockholm and other TEDx organizations, the participants will engage in workshops and individual coaching sessions. The programme is designed to empower the aspiring speakers with refugee background and amplify their voices, through developing their storytelling abilities.
“Listening to my story and the stories of others being forced to flee, is very important because storytelling empowers, it educates, it clarifies the misconceptions about refugees,” said Ayan, one of the participants of the Refugee Speakers Programme 2024, who fled to Sweden from Uganda.
UNHCR’s 2024 Refugee Speakers Programme was launched at an event in Stockholm, Sweden. © UNHCR / Kira Tuominen
At the launch event, the participants met each other and their coaches for the first time. © UNHCR / Kira Tuominen.
Former participant, Olga Bondaruk, joined the event to share her experience from last year with the new participants. © UNHCR / Kira Tuominen
During the launch of the programme, the participants had the opportunity to meet each other and coaches from TEDx. The participants were also joined by one of the speakers from the 2023 programme, Olga Bondaruk, who shared her experience and advice on deciding what story to tell, how to memorize a speech, and what she learnt from the programme that has benefited her everyday life.
On 17 June 2024, in connection with World Refugee Day on 20 June, the programme will come to a close with the participants sharing their stories in front of a live audience in Stockholm.
Click here to read more about the programme and listen to the stories from the 2022 and 2023 Refugee Speakers Programme.
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