Despite uncertain futures, displaced girls persevere and find hope

Being forced to flee your home can turn anyone’s world upside down, but for girls, the challenges can be even greater. Refugee and stateless girls are disproportionately impacted by the effects of displacement, often forcing them to drop out of school and take care of their households. Their lives can become limited the second they are forced to flee.

But organizations like UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are working to combat the negative effects of displacement on girls. By prioritizing girls’ education and providing opportunities for engagement and growth in their new communities, we can ensure that worldwide, girls are able to thrive and build brighter futures.

Meet three displaced girls whose futures remain  uncertain and three girls who are thriving after overcoming great obstacles.

Alla

Six-year-old Alla’s future became uncertain when she arrived in Poland with her parents a few months ago. The family left everything behind to seek safety from the conflict in Ukraine.

Back in Ukraine, Alla’s parents told her the loud noises she heard from the bunker were the sounds of thunder. In actuality, the noises came from shelling nearby. That was when they knew it was no longer safe to stay.

While Alla’s parents don’t know what will happen next, they know that their daughter is safe in Poland and that is all they can ask for.

Ajam

Sixteen-year-old Ajam Bibi is an internally displaced Rohingya girl living in Basara camp in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Ajam was forced to drop out of school at 14 years old because her family could no longer afford to pay her school fees due to a lack of employment opportunities.

Because Ajam is Rohingya, she is not acknowledged as a citizen of Myanmar and is considered stateless. This means she has no documentation, no rights and no freedom of movement. As a stateless population, the Rohingya often face barriers to accessing fundamental rights like education and job opportunities.

Milana

Six-year-old Milana is internally displaced inside Ukraine with her mother, Oleksandra, and her seven-month-old sister, Polina. The family left their home in Kramatorsk, Ukraine behind when they woke up one morning to the sound of shelling.

“At five o’clock in the morning, we heard loud sounds of explosions, and we knew that the war had started. So, we packed and left immediately,” says Milana’s mother Oleksandra.

Milana’s father dropped them off at a shelter in a dormitory at Mukachevo State University in western Ukraine and then returned home because he was conscripted to the army. The family is scared and Milana misses her father, but they hope to find safer, more stable housing soon.

Aisha

Aisha is a six-year-old Syrian girl whose family fled from Syria to Jordan in 2013. Aisha was born a refugee in Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp.

This year Aisha participated in a competition called “The Little Chef,” where participants made Eid bread. The Little Chef competition is one of the activities organized by the Made in Za’atari Center — a safe space with programs for refugee children ages 6 to 10 years old. The Little Chef aims to develop children's talents and teach them about their Syrian culture through Eid bread making.

Nyibol

Nyibol is a 16-year-old South Sudanese refugee who attends the Bahr-El Naam primary school for girls in Kenya. She has big dreams for the future, and she knows pursuing an education will set her on the path to achieving them.

"I want to be a doctor when I grow up because I love helping people," says Nyibol.

But Nyibol is not alone in her pursuit of education. Among the refugee population in Kenya, over half are school-aged children — the majority of these refugee children are enrolled in schools and institutes in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and Kalobeyei refugee settlement.

Sofia

Thirteen-year-old Sofia was forced to flee from Ukraine to Poland without her parents. She brought with her some clothes and a guardian angel figurine from her home in Ternopil, Ukraine.

She went to live with her grandmother, Zoya, in Warsaw, Poland. Zoya, who has been living in Poland for 30 years, is now looking after Sofia full-time; but she doesn’t mind spending the extra time with her granddaughter.  “When I come home from work, I always like spending time with Sofia to help her with her homework, teach her some Polish words, watch TV or prepare something to eat,” says Zoya.

Though she misses her parents, hope for Sofia’s future is endless now that she is able to live in peace and continue her studies in Poland.

How you can help…

Help displaced girls around the world rebuild their lives after fleeing conflict and violence by becoming USA for UNHCR’s newest monthly donor. Your donation can help refugee girls get back on their feet and inspire hope for a brighter future.