The Finnish Refugee Council has named Syrian-born actor Youssef Asad Alkhatib as Refugee of the Year 2026, recognising his journey from fleeing war as a teenager to building a career on the Finnish stage.
The announcement was made in Helsinki on Tuesday, ahead of World Refugee Day, with the organisation citing Alkhatib’s contribution to Finnish society and his work promoting dialogue between communities.
At 26, Alkhatib lives in Helsinki and is preparing to graduate from the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. He arrived in Finland in 2017 as an unaccompanied minor through the United Nations resettlement programme after spending more than a year travelling from Syria through Turkey and Greece.
Alkhatib left Syria at the age of 15 after the conflict and the presence of ISIS in his home region forced his family to make a difficult decision.
Speaking about his departure, he recalled the contrast between his own situation and the lives of other teenagers around him.
“I was afraid of leaving, and I asked my friend to come with me. He told me he couldn’t because he had a biology exam the next day. That sentence shattered me. While others were preparing for school, I had to flee for my life.”
His journey took him first to Turkey, where he worked in a shoe factory to support himself. He later travelled to Greece and spent months near the border with North Macedonia after migration routes across Europe began closing.
More than a year after leaving Syria, he received a message from the United Nations refugee agency informing him that Finland had agreed to accept him through its resettlement programme.
“When I received the message, my first question was whether Finland was a city in Germany,” he said.
Alkhatib arrived in Finland aged 16 and quickly set his sights on becoming an actor. Soon after reaching a reception centre in Siuntio, he began contacting Finnish actors and theatre professionals, introducing himself and expressing his ambition to work in the performing arts.
Most of his messages went unanswered. One opportunity changed the course of his life.
He secured a role in a Finnish National Theatre project and later joined theatre groups while completing his education. In 2021, he became the first student with a refugee background to gain admission to the Theatre Academy in Helsinki.
“When I arrived in Finland, all I had was my dream. Now, almost ten years later, I know so many wonderful people and I’m about to graduate from the Theatre Academy,” he said.
The Finnish Refugee Council said Alkhatib’s story reflects the opportunities that education, language learning and participation in society can create for people who arrive as refugees.
Alkhatib credits learning Finnish as one of the most important steps in establishing a new life.
While many fellow immigrants spoke Arabic together, he deliberately sought opportunities to use Finnish in everyday life.
“Fortunately, I became involved in theatre so quickly, because it was the best place to learn Finnish. It’s a difficult language, but by listening to Finnish music and watching Finnish films, it gradually started to come naturally.”
The annual Refugee of the Year recognition highlights people with refugee backgrounds who have contributed to public life in Finland and helped increase understanding of displacement and integration.
As this year’s recipient, Alkhatib said he wants to use the platform to engage with young people and encourage those facing difficult circumstances.
“I hope I can help save young people from difficult circumstances, just as I was given a chance to build a new life. If even one young person finds a new direction through my story, that is a great victory.”
Alkhatib said his experiences have shaped both his Syrian and Finnish identities. While he considers Finland home and embraces Finnish traditions, he also remains closely connected to memories of his childhood in Syria and to family members who still live there.
His father and three sisters remain in Syria.
Syria continues to face humanitarian challenges despite political changes in recent years. Millions of Syrians remain displaced within the country, while millions more continue to live as refugees across neighbouring states.
Against that backdrop, Alkhatib said he hopes to contribute to public discussions by emphasising shared experiences rather than differences.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from or whether you are rich or poor. We all live in the same city and walk on the same streets.”
He added that simple everyday interactions can strengthen communities and help bridge divisions.
“Above all, we can be grateful for the simple fact that we wake up each day in safety.”
HT