Saturday 20th June is World Refugee Day.
The day, designated by United Nations, honours the courage and resilience of the many people who are forced to leave their homes each year.
According to UNHCR’s latest trends report, seven in ten refugees are from just six countries: Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.
Most people fleeing conflict and persecution remain near their country of origin. At the end of 2025, 65 per cent of refugees were hosted in neighbouring countries. Low and middle income countries host the majority of the world’s refugees, hosting 68 per cent of refugees and other people in need of international protection.
Colombia, Germany, Turkey, Uganda, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chad and Pakistan hosted the largest populations of refugees and other people in need of international protection.
To mark World Refugee Day, we cauht up with our six inspiring Refugee Festival Ambassadors, who have been using their platform to share their stories, and those of their communities.
Wahib
“I’m from the Darfur region of Sudan. I lived there with my family and worked as a butcher and farmer. It was a hard life but I was happy. Then the war came and everything changed.
“I believe that being a Refugee Festival Ambassador is one of the best ways to amplify my voice and the voices of those who often go unheard.
“This belief comes from my own lived experience as an asylum seeker, and I feel a responsibility to share the reality that many people never see.
“I also want to challenge the common misconception that asylum seekers living in hotels are enjoying a comfortable life. “The reality is very different. These hotels often feel like open prisons rather than places of safety.”
“You do not have the freedom to choose your meals; you must eat whatever is provided. If you miss a meal for any reason, there is no replacement—you simply have to wait until the next scheduled meal. If you have an appointment during meal times, there is a good chance you will go the entire day without eating, especially when the weekly financial support is only around £10, which is far from enough to meet basic needs.
“Even leaving and returning to the hotel requires signing out and signing back in. There are no facilities to heat food if a friend saves some for you, and residents are not allowed extra portions even when the amount provided is insufficient.
“One of the most difficult aspects is that you have no choice over who you share a room with. You may be forced to live with someone whose behaviour causes stress or discomfort. Personally, I often avoided conflict by sacrificing my sleep or leaving the room late at night rather than allowing arguments to develop.
“Not everyone has the emotional resilience to cope with these conditions. Many people have escaped war and violence and need support and understanding to recover and integrate into their new communities.
“During my time in the hotel, I volunteered in my local community and at the food bank, which allowed me to know many of the residents personally. I often helped resolve conflicts and encouraged people to support one another. There is so much more that could be said about life in asylum accommodation, but I hope sharing these experiences helps people understand the reality behind the headlines.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“I believe there are two kinds of people.
“The first are those who know the truth but deliberately spread misinformation for political, ideological, or personal interests. They understand that many of the claims they make about asylum seekers are false, yet they continue to promote them because it serves their agenda.
“The second group consists of ordinary people who simply hear these messages and believe them without having the time or opportunity to investigate the facts for themselves. They are less harmful because their opinions are based on misinformation rather than malice.
“Many people are led to believe that asylum seekers live in luxury hotels and receive generous financial support, which creates resentment and hostility. However, if they could see the reality of daily life for asylum seekers, I believe many would change their views and respond with greater compassion and solidarity.
“Misleading media narratives have a powerful impact, especially on those who rely on headlines rather than lived experience. Sharing the truth is one of the most important ways to challenge prejudice and build understanding.”
What would you like people to know about your community?
“I would like people to know that my Sudanese community is built on compassion, solidarity, and strong family and social bonds. We welcome those who seek safety and believe in helping others whenever we can.
“We did not leave our homeland because we wanted to; we were forced to leave by war, insecurity, and political instability. Like anyone else, we wanted to live peacefully in our own country.
“Anyone who learns about Sudanese society will discover a culture rich in generosity, hospitality, and mutual support. These values remain with us wherever we go, and we strive to make a positive contribution to every community that welcomes us.”
Olga
“My name is Olga Maslova and I am originally from Bucha, Ukraine.
“In 2022, my daughter and I were forced to leave our home because of the war and relocate to Scotland through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. We now live in Glasgow. My husband remains in Ukraine and is currently serving in the armed forces.
“Before the war, I never imagined that I would become a refugee.”
Like millions of others, I simply wanted to live in my home, raise my child and build a future. The war changed everything.”
What made you want to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador?
“For me, it is important to show through the work of our organisation, DOVIRA, that behind the word “refugee” there is always a person. A person with a family, a profession, dreams, talents and a culture.
“I wanted to become a Refugee Festival Ambassador because I believe that storytelling, music, culture and shared experiences help people understand one another. They break down stereotypes and create meaningful connections between communities.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“Sometimes refugees are presented only through the lens of loss and hardship. While those experiences are real, refugees are not only people who need support. They are also people who contribute to the communities around them through their knowledge, skills, creativity, culture and resilience.
“Nobody chooses to become a refugee. People leave their homes because circumstances force them to seek safety for themselves and their families.”
What’s something you’d like people to know about your community?
“I would like people to know that Ukrainian culture is rich, diverse and deeply rooted in history. It is a culture that has survived generations of attempts to erase it, yet it continues to thrive through its language, traditions, music, literature and people.
“I hope that when the war ends and if we have the opportunity to return home, people in Scotland and other countries will remember Ukrainians not only as refugees, but as neighbours, friends, volunteers, artists, professionals and community builders. I hope they will remember us as people who were grateful for the support they received and who shared their culture, strength and humanity in return.”
Thusanli
What made you want to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador?
“I have lived in Glasgow for nearly seven years as an asylum seeker and have gained valuable first-hand knowledge of the asylum system and the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. As a qualified dentist, I have experienced the difficulties skilled professionals face in using their qualifications and contributing fully to society during the asylum process.
“I actively support members of the Tamil community by sharing information, providing guidance, and helping them access services and opportunities. I joined the Refugee Ambassador Programme to use my lived experience, professional background, and community involvement to advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, raise awareness of their challenges, and contribute to positive change.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“I believe asylum seekers and refugees are often portrayed negatively in the media, which can create misunderstanding and misinformation. I am passionate about sharing accurate information and helping people understand why individuals seek safety, the challenges they face, and the positive contributions they make to society. I want to use my lived experience to challenge misconceptions, promote understanding, and support fair and truthful representation of refugees and asylum seekers.”
What’s something you’d like people to know about your community?
“I am committed to supporting the Tamil community in Glasgow, which often remains less visible and less connected to wider support networks. Through my experience with local charities, I recognised the need for stronger community engagement and support for Tamil people.
“This motivated me to help build connections, support individuals in accessing services, and promote engagement between the Tamil community and other communities. I am proud of my Tamil heritage and language, and I believe in promoting inclusion, visibility, and participation within wider society.”
Nataliya
“Before the war, I had a life that I had spent decades building. In Ukraine, I held senior leadership positions in culture and education, earned three higher education degrees, served as city councillor, and led a large Department of Culture and Education. I was honoured to establish two national records in Ukrainian culture and contribute to adding two elements to Ukraine’s intangible cultural heritage.
“I loved my work because it was about people, communities, and preserving our cultural identity for future generations. I never imagined that one day I would have to leave everything behind.
“When Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, my life changed forever. Like millions of Ukrainian women, I became a mother trying to protect her children from war. We arrived in Edinburgh carrying fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak. I had lost not only my home but also my career, my professional identity, and the future I had planned.
“The hardest part was starting again from nothing.”
I still remember the feeling of standing in a foreign country, unable to speak the language, trying to understand how to build a new life for my children. There were moments when I cried in silence because the contrast between who I had been and where I found myself felt overwhelming.
“But I refused to let war define the rest of my life.
“Step by step, I rebuilt my confidence. I studied, volunteered and continued believing that my experience still mattered. Soon I was offered the role of Manager at St Mary’s Ukrainian School in Glasgow. That opportunity gave me something I desperately needed at the time – purpose. It allowed me not only to rebuild my own life but also to help hundreds of other Ukrainians who were experiencing the same pain and uncertainty.
“Later, I was honoured to receive one of the most prestigious awards at Edinburgh College. Looking back, I see a journey of loss, resilience and hope. The war took many things from me, but it did not take my determination to keep moving forward.”
What made you want to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador?
“Because I know what it feels like when your entire life changes overnight. I know what it means to leave your home not because you want to, but because you have no choice. I know what it feels like to stand in a supermarket unable to understand the language around you and wonder how you will ever find your place again.
“I know what it feels like when your entire life changes overnight.”
“When people hear the word ‘refugee’ they often see a label. I see mothers, fathers, children, professionals, artists, teachers, doctors, and community leaders. I see human beings whose lives were interrupted by circumstances beyond their control.
“I wanted to become a Refugee Festival Ambassador because I want to help tell those stories. I want people to see the strength behind the struggle and dignity behind the statistics.
“I want refugee communities to feel seen, valued, and celebrated for who they are.
“Most importantly, I want every person who has been displaced to know that losing your home does not mean losing your worth.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“Too often, refugees are presented as numbers instead of people.
“The media sometimes focuses on what refugees need rather than what they contribute. It can overlook the fact that behind every refugee is a lifetime of experience, education, achievement and service.
“When I arrived in Scotland, people saw a refugee mother. What they could not see was the woman who had spent years leading cultural and educational initiatives, serving her community, and helping preserve Ukraine’s heritage.
“There are thousands of stories like mine.
“Refugees are not simply people who have escaped danger. They are people who are rebuilding their lives with extraordinary courage.”
“They learn new languages, adapt to new cultures, support their families, volunteer, work, study, and contribute to their communities every day.
“I believe we need more stories that show not only the hardship but also the humanity, resilience, and potential of people seeking safety.”
What’s something you’d like people to know about your community?
“I would like people to know that the Ukrainian community in Scotland is resilient, talented, and deeply grateful for the kindness it has received. I want people to know that the Ukrainian community in Scotland carries both pain and incredible strength.
“Many of us arrived with invisible wounds. We left behind homes, careers, loved ones and dreams. Some families remain separated by war even today. Yet despite everything, Ukrainians continue to support one another and contribute to the communities that welcomed us.
“At St Mary’s Ukrainian School in Glasgow, we have created much more than a school. We have built a safe space where children affected by war can feel understood, valued and connected to their roots. We support not only education but also emotional wellbeing, confidence, identity and belonging.
“I have seen children arrive withdrawn and frightened, carrying trauma that no child should ever experience. Over time, through friendship, learning, culture and community, have watched them smile again. Those moments remind me why this work matters.
“Our choir, Volya, has become a powerful voice for our community. Performing across Scotland, they share Ukrainian songs, culture, and stories with audiences from many backgrounds. Every performance is about more than music. It is about remembrance, resilience, gratitude and hope.
“The Ukrainian community does not want to be known only for surviving war. We want to be known for our culture, our kindness, our resilience and our determination to build a better future for our children.
“My own journey has taught me that even when war takes away familiar, it cannot take away the human spirit. And sometimes, from the deepest loss, a new purpose can emerge.”
Farida
“I come from Gaza, a place that is often described as one of the most dangerous places in the world, but for me it is also a place of love, strength, memory, and deep community. Gaza is a land of contradictions: a place of love and war, pain and hope, loss and resilience.
“Although my family was displaced from a village called Hirbiya, an old Palestinian village near Gaza that was taken over by Israel, I never grew up feeling like a refugee in Gaza. Gaza was home. It gave me a sense of belonging, identity, and community, even while my family carried the history of displacement. My background is shaped by both that loss and that love — by the pain of being uprooted, but also by the strength of people who continue to live, care, study, dream, and hope.”
What made you want to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador?
“I wanted to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador because I believe our stories should be told with dignity, not pity. I wanted to help share the human side of displacement — the side that is often missing from public conversations. Being from Gaza, and coming from a family with a history of displacement, I know that being a refugee is not only about loss. It is also about identity, memory, culture, resistance, and the ability to keep going.
“I believe our stories should be told with dignity, not pity.”
“For me, the Refugee Festival is a space to celebrate people, not just their struggles. It is a chance to show that refugees and people seeking safety bring stories, skills, culture, warmth, and strength to the communities they become part of.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“I think the media often shows refugees and people seeking safety only through crisis, numbers, or politics. It can forget that behind every headline there is a human being with a family, a history, a home, dreams, and a voice.
“The media often shows refugees as helpless victims or as a burden, but that is not the full truth. Refugees are also students, parents, workers, artists, neighbours, and community members. Many have survived unimaginable situations, but they should not be defined only by suffering. I wish the media showed more of our dignity, strength, culture, and the contributions we make.”
What’s something you’d like people to know about your community?
“I would like people to know that my community is full of love, generosity, and resilience. People from Gaza and Palestine carry a deep connection to family, land, food, language, memory, and hospitality. Even in the hardest circumstances, there is still warmth, humour, care, and hope.
“I want people to know that we are not only stories of war. We are also stories of culture, education, kindness, creativity, and survival. My community has experienced displacement and loss, but it also continues to hold onto life, dignity, and the dream of peace and justice.”
Bahawudeen
“My name is Bahawudeen Yahaya, and I am originally from Nigeria. I arrived in the United Kingdom in October 2022 after fleeing serious political violence and persecution in my home country.
“In January 2022, I was kidnapped by political thugs and held captive for two days. During my captivity, I struggled to breathe, and my captors abandoned me in the woods, believing I would die. After I returned home, I was attacked again by the same assailants in a separate armed attack in my hometown. During this attack, my elder brother was shot and killed. My family and I narrowly escaped with our lives. Fearing for our safety and unable to find protection, I was forced to leave Nigeria and seek refuge in the United Kingdom.”
What made you want to be a Refugee Festival Ambassador?
“What drew me to the Refugee Festival Ambassador role is the opportunity to help amplify the voices, experiences, and contributions of people seeking sanctuary. I believe festivals like this play an important role in challenging stereotypes, building understanding, and creating meaningful connections between communities. The chance to celebrate culture, resilience, and creativity while helping others engage with these stories is something I find both inspiring and important.
“I also want to contribute to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. As an ambassador, I would be excited to support events, encourage participation, and help spread the festival’s message to wider audiences. Being part of a movement that promotes empathy, solidarity, and community engagement aligns strongly with my values, and I would be proud to help make a positive impact through the festival.”
What do you think the media gets wrong about refugees and people seeking safety?
“I believe the media often focuses too heavily on refugees and people seeking safety as statistics, political issues, or burdens on society, rather than as individuals with unique stories, talents, and aspirations. This can create misconceptions and reinforce negative stereotypes, while overlooking the circumstances that force people to flee their homes, such as conflict, persecution, and violence. Many refugees are resilient individuals who contribute positively to their communities when given the opportunity. More balanced and human-centred coverage can help foster understanding, empathy, and a greater appreciation of the valuable contributions that people seeking safety make to society.”
What’s something you’d like people to know about your community?
“I would like people to know that my community is made up of strong, resilient, and hardworking individuals who have overcome significant challenges in pursuit of safety and a better future. Despite the difficulties many of us have faced, we bring with us rich cultures, diverse skills, and a strong desire to contribute positively to society. We are not defined by our struggles alone; we are parents, students, professionals, volunteers, and neighbours who value community, opportunity, and belonging. When people take the time to listen to our stories, they often discover how much we have in common.”