TRAUMA

Many refugees have experienced significant trauma, whether the situations they fled from, or as a result of their travels to a new country. For some people, their primary need is to express and process this trauma in a healthy way. Expression can take many different forms from a drawing all the way to a song, so giving these refugees the chance to express themselves through various creative mediums can fulfill a large need. After expressing trauma, people can begin to process and heal from their experiences.

QUALITY OF LIFE

The next type of need that a large portion of refugees have has to do with their living situation. Because refugees often cannot get a job, and are restricted to their camps, the living conditions for them are often very poor. Assuming basic needs like food, water, clothing and shelter have been provided for, many refugees desire to improve various aspects of camp life.

Here is an example; A refugee living in a camp has to walk several miles a day in order to travel to a particular destination. He has a bicycle, but it needs to be repaired. That person desires to use the bicycle to travel, but has no tools to fix it. This simple task has the potential to significantly improve this person's quality of life in this camp. Allowing individuals with the tools and expertise to improve their quality of life has the potential to fulfill a vast set of needs for refugees living in camps.

DISCOVERY

Oftentimes, refugees possess skills and knowledge from their old lives that are not being utilized in these new countries. A drastic example of this would be a doctor who fled from his home and is unable to practice medicine in this new country due to that country's legislature. While he cannot work, he may still be able to teach others who are living in the camp, sharing his vast knowledge with them. Let's say that a 15-year-old refugee girl is living in this same camp, and she dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Because she lives in this camp, she cannot go to school, let alone pay to pursue higher education. She meets this doctor in the camp, and he starts to teach her about his profession. This simple illustration illuminates the need some people have for discovery, whether it's new ideas or skills to pursue goals and dreams, these people have.

FLOURISHING

Once refugees have processed their trauma, improved their circumstances, and discovered a purpose, they begin to thrive. Whether pursuing long-held dreams or simply living in freedom, this transformation represents the very hope that compelled them to leave their homes in the first place.