USA for UNHCR's Monthly Digest: July 2024

Welcome to USA for UNHCR’s new monthly newsletter! 

In this debut issue, we are highlighting some of our favorite stories from the last month.  Each story explores trailblazing individuals who are advocating for the protection and safety of refugees and asylum seekers—including LGBTQIA+ refugees—and highlights the crucial roles we can all play in supporting them.  Make sure to check out the story of our featured World Refugee Day storyteller, Lucky Kharim, an incredible young advocate working to support refugees and women and girls around the world. 

Learn more about the incredible work they’re doing and take a closer look at their awe-inspiring stories. 

From a Refugee Camp to the U.S. Congress: One Advocate’s Tireless Work for Rohingya Refugees

Meet Lucky Kharim, our 2024 World Refugee Day featured storyteller. 

At the age of only 14 years old, Lucky fled violence in Myanmar and found safety in a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. There, she overcame language barriers to effectively advocate for her community's needs.

Today, Lucky has taken her advocacy from the refugee camp to the U.S. Congress, where she is passionately fighting for the rights of displaced women and girls everywhere.

Read about Lucky’s journey and her amazing advocacy work.

Meet four resilient young refugees who are harnessing their skills to shape brighter futures

In celebration of World Youth Skills Day, we highlighted the stories of four incredible young refugees and displaced youth around the world who are harnessing their talents and skills to build brighter futures for their communities.

From climate activism to a passion for sports, each of these individuals is proving that even in the face of adversity, young refugees can achieve anything!

Read about four young refugees who are leaving positive impacts on their communities.

Pride: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ refugees around the world

In June we celebrated Pride month by amplifying the courageous stories of six LGBTQIA+ refugees and changemakers!

Despite facing, discrimination and violence, these six individuals have shown remarkable strength in speaking up on behalf of forcibly displaced LGBTQIA+ refugees, pushing boundaries and bravely championing change in their communities and around the world!

Read about six LGBTQIA+ refugees striving to make positive changes for other displaced LGBTQIA+ people.

Friendship, Pride, Allyship: Meet Kyle, a LGBTQIA+ Refugee Advocate in Minneapolis

Get to know Kyle Kvamme, a remarkable refugee ally.

For Kyle, a chance meeting at Twin Cities Pride in 2020 proved life-changing. There, he met Juan, a gay asylum seeker from Venezuela, who not only became one of his closest friends but also inspired Kyle's advocacy work for LGBTQIA+ refugees. Today he is a communications specialist working at ORAM - Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, a Minneapolis-based humanitarian organization supporting displaced LGBTQIA+ people around the world.

Read Kyle’s story and learn about his extraordinary allyship. 

How this Chicago-based advocate is bridging gaps for LGBTQIA+ refugees in the United States

Have you met LGBTQIA+ refugee advocate and leader Emma Yaaka?

Emma is a resettled refugee from Uganda and a passionate refugee advocate working to support resettled refugees in the United States. Before resettling in the U.S., Emma found safety in Kenya, where he worked as an interpreter and community health worker for LGBTQIA+ communities in refugee camps.

Now, he works as a Medical Case Manager for Refugee and Immigrant Community Services (RICS) through Heartland Alliance in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a grassroots organizer and serves as the Illinois delegate for the Refugee Congress

Read about how Emma is working tirelessly to bridge gaps for LGBTQIA+ and resettled refugees in the U.S.