Divine Irambona, B.S, PSS, CHW的动态

Throughout my career spanning 16 years across various organizations, I have embraced a journey that challenges conventional beliefs. The notion of women achieving independence was once alien in my background. However, fueled by determination, I pursued a life of dignity, anchored in financial independence. Today, I cherish a life abundant in happiness, marked by mental well-being. ? My career journey has taught me invaluable lessons that resonate universally. While many aspire for a better life, we often overlook the essence of mental peace and contentment. Attaining true fulfillment necessitates avoiding needless struggles and prioritizing self-development and positivity. Our energies are precious, deserving of deliberate investment. ? Adhering to the universal law of reciprocity, I have learned that what we give, we receive. By extending support to others, cultivating optimism, and maintaining integrity in our endeavors, we sow seeds of fulfillment. Striving for excellence in both personal and professional lives, we carve paths to a fulfilling existence. Life's offerings are not accompanied by additional holidays; they unfold in the present moment. Let us seize each opportunity with purpose and gratitude, embracing the journey of life in its entirety. #careeradvice #learning #takeaway #HumanitarianAtWork #refugees #refugeesupport UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

The Ripple Effect of Empowering One At the Refugees Foundation Group, we recognize that the impact of securing employment for a single refugee extends far beyond the individual. It initiates a powerful 'Ripple Effect of Empowerment' that positively influences their family, peers, and the wider community. Each job placement is more than just a career opportunity; it's a catalyst for collective upliftment and transformation. When a refugee finds meaningful work, it not only provides financial stability for their immediate family but also inspires hope and possibility among their peers and extended family group. This empowerment can lead to enhanced educational opportunities for children, improved living conditions, and a stronger sense of community resilience and aspiration. Furthermore, it fosters a culture of self-reliance and success that can inspire others in similar circumstances, creating a cycle of positive change and development. Thus, the act of empowering one individual with a job reverberates through the fabric of entire communities, laying the groundwork for widespread social and economic advancement. At RFG, we are committed to triggering this Ripple Effect of Empowerment, one successful job placement at a time. #Refugees #TechForGood #SocialImpact #DignityThroughWork #NewBeginnings

When my family and I arrived in Australia in 2021, it felt like stepping into a whole new world. We had left behind our home and our familiar ways of life. Facing language difficulties, the stress of family separation, culture shock, mental health trauma, and more, starting over wasn’t easy, but we knew we had to be strong for each other. I found a job soon after we arrived, but it wasn’t enough to make ends meet. We still had worries back in Afghanistan and here, and I felt the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. So, I took on more work. And when that wasn’t enough, I found a third job. Juggling three jobs meant long days and nights. I hardly had time to rest, but I knew I had to keep going. Many depended on me, and I couldn’t let them down. Alongside my jobs, I also volunteered in the community, trying to give back whenever I could. My story is not unique; it reflects the journey of many refugees who face similar, if not greater, challenges. Refugees bring with them a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experiences. Despite everything, I always wore a smile. I believe that the hardship of being a refugee eclipses any other struggle, making the burden of three jobs feel like a simple task. Changing clothes in my car became a routine. I’d finish one job, quickly switch uniforms, and rush to the next workplace. It was a constant hustle, but I did what I had to do. Friends and family worried about me. They could see how tired I was, how much I was carrying. But I put on a brave face, hiding my exhaustion behind a smile. Even when it felt like too much, I kept going. That’s what you do when you’re a refugee – you keep pushing forward, no matter what. This is not a complaint. There was a lot of support available for me and my family, but I wanted the quickest settlement and start for all of us. It's a story of refugees' resilience. Refugees are not just survivors; they are contributors and assets to the communities. Refugees bring immense value, experience, strength, and diversity to their new homes, enriching communities with their unique perspectives and hard-earned wisdom. Now, looking back on those tough times, I still keep two outfits in my car, but now one of them is gym clothes. ?? #RefugeeWeek #Resilience #StrengthInAdversity #RefugeesContribute

Yesterday marked the start of World Refugee Week – a time of great significance on The Bread & Butter Project’s calendar, when we shine a light on refugees and celebrate their contributions to our society. This year’s theme of 'Finding Freedom' encourages a particular focus on Family – emphasising the crucial role families play in providing solace, support and a sense of belonging to those forced to flee their homelands. These connections become beacons of hope in times of uncertainty. At The Bread & Butter Project, our trainee refugee bakers find a new family here in Australia, where they establish friendships and lifelong bonds while learning the art of baking. As Australia’s first social enterprise bakery, and since 2013,?we have invested 100% of our profits into?providing training and employment pathways for close to 90 refugees who’ve aspired to become bakers. Every one of our graduates is a mother, a father, a brother, sister, son or daughter. Many have arrived with immediate family – but most have been forced to leave loved ones behind. What our refugee arrivals have done for their families – in the hope of safety and a better future – is often remarkable, and we are now proud to call them part of our family. ? Over the next few days we will share stories of hope and love, from a few of our family members at The Bread & Butter Project. #RefugeeWeekAU #RefugeeWeek #Refugees #WithRefugees #RefugeesWelcome #RefugeeStories #WorldRefugeeDay

A key aspect of our mission? Bridging skill gaps and creating opportunities for refugees in vital sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. ?? ?? Through tailored job skills training, we provide refugees with the necessary tools to excel in the workforce. Their diverse skill sets and adaptability are invaluable assets in addressing critical labor shortages. When refugees enter the workforce, they contribute to economic growth by supporting local businesses and fostering job creation. Their diligence and dedication not only generate income and taxes but also stimulate consumer spending. ?? ?? Employment transcends mere financial gain; it fosters social integration and a sense of belonging. Through meaningful work, refugees establish connections, acquire new competencies, and enrich their communities. #AgentsOfHope #MakingADifference #Chicago?#ThreeSimpleFacts

35 years ago today, I became a refugee. On May 21st, 1989, my parents and I left everything and everyone we knew behind, and with our 6 suitcases and a few hundred dollars, began our journey to try and come to the United States as refugees. I remember that day very clearly. Even at 13, I felt its gravitas, the way it separated my life into before and after. We were leaping into a new future with so much hope, uncertainty, and worry -- most of which my parents were feeling, but there was a soup of emotions in my stomach, too. It’s been 35 years and sometimes, it all feels like a story that happened to someone else. But it happened to me…. No, it became me. Being a refugee isn’t an event or an experience. It’s a core part of who I am. My being. My identity. My family and I celebrate May 21st as America Day, because even though we arrived in America on August 4th, this was the day we truly began our journey. We dress up in red, white and blue, and go out to eat American food together. (Tonight it’s burgers and ice cream!) I was thinking about what I would love to say to my younger self on this day, 35 years ago. It's what I want to say to all young people, including my almost 20 year-old daughter Mia: Nothing will turn out the way you think it will. But this is not a bad thing. It's a great thing. Because it frees you from wasting your energy trying to figure out a perfect life path. Instead, you can do something much more valuable: Discover your soul’s purpose and share your unique gifts in ways that make you feel alive. This will not be easy. It will require you to do difficult things, try new things, deal with disappointment and failure. But uncovering your soul’s purpose is the most beautiful journey you will ever undertake. And there’s one thing you need to do to give yourself the inner strength to stay the course: Learn how to be kind to yourself. Self-kindness is your secret weapon. When you are kind to yourself, you can handle rejection, work through fear, do the hard things, bust through obstacles. When you treat yourself with compassion, you unlock your full potential and have so much of your unique gifts to share in the service of others. When you are loving towards yourself, you do things from a deep reservoir of love instead of doing things so you can earn love, something that you can never ultimately do. Self-kindness is your secret weapon. So dream big. Have huge hopes. Imagine what’s possible. Keep your dreams loosely held within your being and allow them to evolve as you learn more about yourself and how you can best serve your soul’s purpose. Expect difficulties. Recognize that fear and doubt are your brain’s natural reactions to doing anything challenging and shift your focus to your sense of purpose to walk around them. And treat yourself with love and kindness. They will ripple from you onto every single person you meet on your life’s journey. With love, Nataly #refugee #selfkindness

99% of my connections don’t know this about me… I grew up in a refugee camp during the early years of my life. The people around me weren’t dreamers but realists focused on finding their next meal, shelter, or a life-changing opportunity. Still, despite the hustle for survival, we had and leaned on each other. Growing up in a Ghanaian refugee camp and being born in Liberia during a time of civil war could have easily shaped my future in ways beyond my control. My single mom faced incredible hardships raising us, but she taught me resilience, adaptability, and the power of hope. But as I’ve come to realize, it’s not the experiences that define us — it’s the meaning we choose to give them. It’s easy to feel as though our past dictates our future, especially when we’ve come through struggle. But our past is a chapter, not the whole book. We hold the pen for each new page, each new step forward. My past experiences were challenging, yet they planted seeds of empathy, determination, and a drive to create positive change. Whether overcoming personal challenges, starting fresh, or simply reflecting on how far you’ve come, remember that your past does not limit your potential; it fuels it. Let’s allow our stories to inspire us but not define us. The future is wide open, and we have the strength and vision to shape it. PS. Below is a picture of me and my twin (I am on the right). We lost almost all our baby pictures during the war, so seeing pictures of us smiling and happy brings me joy. #Resilience #GrowthMindset #OvercomingObstacles #FutureForward

Lessons I Learned from Being a teenage Refugee… Arriving in the UK homeless and unable to speak the language, was rough. But it shaped me into who I am today. Here are the key lessons I picked up along the way: Respect the Culture, but Own Yours – You can't survive without learning the local ways, but that doesn’t mean forgetting where you came from. Blend in, but stay true to your roots. Adapt or Struggle – Refugee life is full of surprises. You learn quickly that being flexible is the key to survival. It’s not just about going with the flow; it’s about thriving in the chaos. Fear Isn’t the Boss – Fear was a constant, but I learned that once you face it, life opens up. Everything good—friends, opportunities, growth—happens on the other side of fear. Forget Stereotypes, They’re Dead Weight – People will try to label you, and it’s tempting to label them back. But labels are limiting. Prove them wrong by letting go of expectations. Resilience Is Built, Not Born – Every setback is just practice. The more times you get knocked down, the easier it is to get back up. It’s a skill, not a trait. Life's an Unpredictable Ride – Nothing’s certain when your world is flipped upside down. But you learn to roll with it. Chaos brings lessons and some dark humour along the way. Community Saves You – Going it alone is a myth. I wouldn’t have made it without others. When you find your people, hold tight—they’re your foundation. Kindness Cuts Through Everything – Even when you have nothing, kindness connects you with others. It's free, it’s universal, and it goes a long way. Dream Bigger Than Your Situation – No matter how impossible things seem, never shrink your dreams to fit your circumstances. If anything, aim higher. Laugh When You Can, Stay Grounded – Sometimes, all you can do is laugh at the madness. Other times, you stay steady and keep moving forward. I learned all of this the hard way , but my life experiences haven’t defined me they have shaped me - I am grateful for all of them ?? ??My biggest lesson: My heritage is not my Burden - it’s my POWER #Roma Peace & ?? #Refugee #LifeLessons #CourageandGrowth

??????????????????. Some years ago, while managing a family camp at a refugee center in the Pacific, I came across this term. ? I explored what this meant... ?? Displaced, homeless, citizenshipless, refugee, nationless. Stateless people have no legal protection, no right to vote. They lack access to education, employment, health care, and property rights. They live without hope, safety, stability, and completely stuck where they are.? I have seen it in their eyes. ?? To me, their eyes appeared dead, deep in their forehead, solid and dark. ? We become stateless, even if, only in our minds, when we are searching for meaning, or searching for a stable influence in our lives. When we are in the depth of change, when we struggle to know who we are, afraid of what might become of us, frozen in time and place. Is feeling stateless a way to travel through life? This is a time to mobilise, a time to recognise that this is only part of the longer journey of life. One foot in front of the other, attempting to stabilise our thoughts and actions. ????♀? ? Moving to identify yourself through the maze of distractions that life presents, puts the child growing up in a haze of uncertainty, de-stabilising them further. Learning to identify who we are gives the individual room to move forward into a deep self-knowing and provides a deeper understanding of where they belong ? Through reflection, both of the self and the mirroring presented to us, we move to a greater understanding of our own potential. ? One of the most fulfilling gifts as a Mentor/Therapist is to experience my clients coming out of the haze. ?? Saying no to the distractions, the inner critic voices. ?? Being fully present in the moment, acknowledging who they have become. In my experience, my clients often display the same sunken eyes and demeanour as stateless people—the obvious difference, of course, is that they are not technically stateless. Stateless people have no choice, we do. But we often don’t realise that we do. ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????????. The ability to notice it is also the ability to control it. ?? Control begins with the fundamental understanding. Although we can feel stateless—from our families, our businesses, maybe even our countries and ideas—we still have the internal power to decide how to act. ?? The liberation is in becoming that “Self-Made Individual” who formulates their own path and stabilises themselves through their own knowing. Having both feet on the ground, with a deep wisdom through knowledge, and understanding as to where they fit in a world that presents mostly through the eyes of others. I believe that every individual, without exception, is valuable and deserves to be considered and respected. Including ourselves. Always Remember ?? Rise Up, Give Back #MaryScottInfluence #PersonalDevelopment #ConfidenceCoach

C O N F I D E N C E You'll often see us add the hashtags #Opportunity #Confidence #Dignity. Here's the Second of three posts sharing what they mean. Yahala Mataam CIC is a social enterprise based in York. Our mission is to give opportunity, build confidence and instill dignity in the lives of refugees and Asylum seekers. We do this through a number of food projects. We started Yahala Mataam in 2019, running monthly pop-up restaurant nights from the St. Sampson's Centre. Initially we had 10 Syrian refugees get involved with the project. Some made the food, some prepared tradition drinks and some served the tables, but we noticed a similar pattern across the whole team, that was a lack of confidence. This lack of confidence often presented itself as a lack of confidence in using English, and that is really understandable. They were all needing to learn this new language, the older you are the harder it is to pick it up, some were illiterate in their own language and many, if not all had had broken education due to the conflicts they'd fled also. Speaking, reading, writing and understanding the language of the country you live in opens up so many doors to you; from basic things like being able to go to the supermarket to important things like seeing a Doctor and more complex things like writing a CV and applying for a job or negotiating a new energy contract! As we gave opportunity for refugee friends to successfully cook a meal for 50 people and communicate with customers at the meals, we saw their confidence built. Not only could they converse and understand more written English, but they were happier making friends with neighbours and some started to come up with their own new ideas for Yahala Mataam. Since then we've continued to give opportunities for refugee friends from many different cultures to grow in confidence through different food projects. #RefugeesWelcome