Tolassa Elemaa, 36, has always dreamed of being a world-class runner. He was well on his way, training with elite athletes as a teenager in Ethiopia. But his dream was halted after he was imprisoned for speaking out against his government.

After he was forced to flee his home, Yunus had to start again in the UK. With the help of the IRC, World Jewish Relief and The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network C.I.C.’s Refugee Employability Programme, he is hoping to start a new career in cyber-security.

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.

The reality of embarking on an epic journey can mean only taking a few items with you. If you’re travelling alone and fleeing your country because of conflict or violence, they could even be essential – and mean so much more.

The topic of refugees is often misunderstood or misrepresented. Discussions frequently emphasize numbers and statistics, which can overshadow the human stories behind them. Continue reading to discover important facts and figures about refugees, along with the real stories of the people served by the IRC.

An instructor at a non-profit that teaches skateboarding to children, Belqisa’s dreams of pro-competition were put on hold when she had to escape Afghanistan. Now she’s seizing a chance for a new start.

Refugees from Ukraine share their experiences of leaving their home country, their journey to safety and hopes for the future.