Aussie Instagram Account ‘Refugee Stories’ Is “Putting People Back Into Policy”

An Australian Instagram account called Refugee Stories is drawing on the format made popular by Humans Of New York to put “people back into policy” by sharing the stories of inspiring individuals who have migrated to Australia as refugees.

Refugee Stories is a project of freelance journalist Nicolle White and has been around for almost five months, but has become more prolific in the last six weeks as the global refugee crisis continues to escalate.

The Refugee Stories account, which has featured tales of refugee camps, capsized boats and new opportunities in Australia, acts as a reminder that migrants are actual human beings with actual potential to have a positive impact on the countries they choose to live in.

Speaking with Huffington Post Australia, Ms White says she shares the stories to help other people look beyond any negative rhetoric surrounding refugees.

“The issue is so politicised here and I think it’s time people connect to the individuals and their stories,” Ms White says. “They want people to be more understanding of their situation.”

Now with over 2000 followers, the Refugee Stories Instagram account is seeing more and more migrants open up about their stories.

“Very few people I’ve asked to be part of it have said no,” Ms White says. “Generally, they want people to understand they want to be here in Australia. They want to integrate and share their culture and play active role in society.”

All of Refugee Stories’ posts are currently produced in Melbourne, where Ms White lives. She is open to expanding it, however, and anyone interested in contacting her can do so via [email protected].

Catch a selection of Refugee Stories’ recent posts, below.

 

When the civil war began in Somalia, we had no idea it was coming. We went from being okay to running for our lives. The people we grew up with, our neighbours, we couldn’t trust them. We were living with fear, looking over our shoulders all the time. When we watch war on TV, there is always music in the background. There is no music in war. One minute you are with someone the next minute they are dead. It is a harsh and cruel space to be in.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Sep 21, 2015 at 5:30am PDT

 

I am a Hazara from Afghanistan. Hazaras have a history of ethnic persecution since the 1880s. As a Hazara child, it difficult to live a normal life in Afghanistan because you are discriminated against on every level. People are compelled to leave the country and find safer havens to live in, but only few make it.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Aug 31, 2015 at 3:16am PDT

 

My father left our family to seek asylum in Australia when I was six years old. It was tough on our family. I remember feeling strange about losing him, unsure about where he was going or how long he would be away for. He was held in a detention centre for 9 months. There was no contact so we did not know whether he had made it to Australia or not. By the time we were reunited, I was 12 years old.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Sep 1, 2015 at 2:58pm PDT

 

When I arrived in Australia, we lived near the local pool. I’d never swum before and was curious to learn. The lifeguards were very friendly and talked to me even though I had just started to learn English. One day, AMES took us to a beach to talk about water safety. I asked one of the guys “How do you become a lifeguard?” He gave me his card and asked me to think about it. I gave him a call the next day, he booked me in and paid for my course. I became the first Afghani lifeguard in Australia.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Sep 6, 2015 at 4:47am PDT

 

I was four and a half when we left. My father was a fighter for South Vietnam who lost the war. At the end of the war he was thrown into a re-education camp. The camps were similar to a concentration camp. Prisoners were malnourished to the point of boiling up their leather belts to chew and catching rats to skin and eat. My dad was there for two years. My mother wanted a better future for us so decided to get on a boat.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Aug 18, 2015 at 1:51am PDT

 

A few days into the journey our boat was boarded by pirates. They smashed our compass, our engine, and put all the women on their boat. My mum feared they were going to rape us all and thought it might be best to jump in the water. Luckily another boat came by and with not much loot from us, the pirates decided to go after them. They left us, 250 people, sinking without, water, food, petrol or clothes. A Canadian oil tanker eventually saved us.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Aug 20, 2015 at 4:18am PDT

 

I went through a period where I was really uncomfortable with my culture. I hated how mum’s cooking smelt, I hated the commission flat we lived in. I wanted to be Australian, to fit in. It took me until I was in my 30’s to accept my background and how I looked.

A photo posted by @refugeestories on Aug 23, 2015 at 4:18am PDT

Feature Images: Refugee Stories