Jin Davod, a young social entrepreneur and this year’s regional winner for Europe, is one of five trailblazing women honored with the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She drew on her own experience as a refugee to create an online platform that provides mental health support to trauma survivors and people in need of psychological assistance, including free-of-charge services for refugee and local communities in need.
“All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But these five winners show how women are also playing a critical role in the humanitarian response and in finding solutions.” Grandi praised their dedication to driving action in their own communities, building grassroots support, and even shaping national policies.
Born in Raqqa, Syria, Davod fled with her family to Türkiye in 2014 to escape the conflict. She eventually resumed her education, finishing high school and embarking on a degree in computer engineering. As a second-year university student, she designed and built Peace Therapist, an online platform that matches licensed therapists with people struggling to heal and recover from traumatic events. Crucially, it helps break down language and cultural barriers that often prevent refugees from accessing mental health services.
At the Nansen ceremony in Geneva on 14 October, hosted by South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha, Jin said, “It wasn’t my choice to become a refugee, but it is my choice to help refugees. I accept this award on behalf of every person who has faced unimaginable hardship and found the strength to keep going. Together, we are healing from trauma, building resilience, and creating a brighter, more peaceful future for all.” She added, “I want to thank my parents for their endless support, and thank Türkiye for providing a safe haven for me and my family when we needed it most, allowing us to rebuild our lives.”
Peace Therapist now has a roster of over 100 psychologists providing therapy in Arabic, English, Kurdish and Turkish, making it uniquely accessible to the refugees it was designed to serve. After the devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria in February 2023, the platform expanded its reach, offering free services and partnering with international organizations to support thousands of people impacted by the disaster from the host community as well. Users say the platform has helped them regain confidence, return to school, find work, and contribute to social cohesion.
For her dedication to providing mental health support to refugees and other survivors of trauma, Jin has been selected as the 2024 regional winner for Europe of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.
Beyond Europe, this year’s global laureate and the other three regional winners are:
In addition to the global laureate and regional winners, the people of Moldova received an honourable mention for acting as a beacon of humanity.
The event showcased the winners’ work and featured performances by Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham, Moldovan soprano Valentina Nafornita and singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé (MBE).
The awards are made possible through support from the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, IKEA Foundation, and the City and Canton of Geneva. They are named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen.
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