When violent clashes broke out in Mali in 2012, thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. Up to 50,000 sought refuge in Niger, often with little more than the clothes on their backs.

If you’re struggling to remember positive news about 2024, you’re not alone. Here are 8 stories that inspired us this year and gave us hope for 2025.

Swedish student Erin Ersson has gone viral after she refused to sit down on a plane that was due to deport an Afghan man from Sweden to Istanbul, and then to his country of origin. Erin filmed the whole situation live on Facebook and her video has now been viewed more than 4 million times, raising awareness about deportations of Afghans. Here’s what you need to know.