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Ted Talks

What does it mean to be a refugee

About 60 million people around the globe have been forced to leave their homes to escape war, violence and persecution. The majority have become Internally Displaced Persons, meaning they fled their homes but are still in their own countries. Others, referred to as refugees, sought shelter outside their own country. But what does that term really mean?

Don’t Feel Sorry for Refugees, Believe in Them

“We have seen advances in every aspect of our lives — except our humanity,” says Luma Mufleh, a Jordanian immigrant and Muslim of Syrian descent who founded the first accredited school for refugees in the United States. Mufleh shares stories of hope and resilience, explaining how she’s helping young people from war-torn countries navigate the difficult process of building new homes. Get inspired to make a personal difference in the lives of refugees with this powerful talk.

Life and Inspiration in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp: Moulid Hujale

Born in Kismayo, Moulid was forced to flee Somalia with his family at the age of 10 to the Dadaab refugee camp across the border into Kenya. After witnessing the lack of opportunities for youth in Dadaab, Moulid started the Refugee Newsletter and engaged 30 young people, partnering with FilmAid International. He also partnered with UNHCR and other organizations working in Dadaab to collaborate on an umbrella initiative that provided skills training and jobs to Dadaab youth. Moulid recently moved to Mogadishu to work on making education accessible to all.

Promise and Opportunity. From Refugee to Building up a Life: Parweez Koehestanie

Parweez was born in Kabul in 1982, aware from the age of 5 years old that he wanted to become a doctor. At 16 years old he fled Afghanistan to escape the Taliban and ended up in the Netherlands after a long journey full of horrors. Join Parweez as he takes you through the history of his life, his place of birth in the present day and his belief that education is the key for building a future peaceful world.

Being a refugee is not a choice: Carina Hoang

Refugees are often marginalized, their humanity ignored as their stories go untold. In this remarkable and emotional talk, however, author and former refugee Carina Hoang discusses her experience as a “boat person”. It’s a powerful account that is impossible to ignore.

Caring for 90,000 Refugees – The Story of Somalia’s Hope Village: Deqo Mohamed

Dr. Deqo Mohamed grew up outside Mogadishu, Somalia in Hope Village – a refugee camp run by her mother Dr. Hawa Abdi. She delivered her first baby at age 15, and now oversees the community as it transitions from emergency response to sustainability. Listen to her powerful story of resilience and recovery.

Refugees Starting Over: Kathryn Stam

Utica is the city that is welcoming to refugees, and over 25% of the city’s population are former refugees. Kathryn Stam shares her story about how refugees are shaping their communities, the challenges they face, and the lessons we can learn from them.

A Personal Story of the Syria Conflict: Riad

Riad had to flee his hometown in Syria because of the conflict, and is now building his life anew as a refugee in Europe. In this moving talk, he takes his audience through a photographic journey of destruction in his home country, sharing his experience through an intimate and individual viewpoint which the media coverage of the Syrian conflict does not allow.

No Human is Illegal

Yoonis Osman Nuur came to the Netherlands 10 years ago after fleeing his home country Somalia, and is one of the many refugees in the Netherlands who cannot get Dutch nationality. While being categorized as an illegal immigrant rather than a refugee, Osman decided to let his voice be heard and demand acknowledgement of his existence in this country. What does it mean to be called ‘illegal’, and should any human being ever be called illegal?

Follow the Sound

Playing “Follow the Sound” from her album “Borderless Lullabies” — which was created in support of immigrant and refugee children entering the US — Morley weaves jazz, soul and resonant vocals. She’s joined onstage by cellist Dave Eggar and multi-instrumentalist Chris Bruce.

What it’s Like to be a Parent in a War Zone

How do parents protect their children and help them feel secure again when their homes are ripped apart by war? In this warm-hearted talk, psychologist Aala El-Khani shares her work supporting — and learning from — refugee families affected by the civil war in Syria. She asks: How can we help these loving parents give their kids the warm, secure parenting they most need?

How can we Bring Mental Health Support to Refugees

The global refugee crisis is a mental health catastrophe, leaving millions in need of psychological support to overcome the traumas of dislocation and conflict. To undo the damage, child psychiatrist and TED Fellow Essam Daod has been working in camps, rescue boats and the shorelines of Greece and the Mediterranean Sea to help refugees (a quarter of which are children) reframe their experiences through short, powerful psychological interventions. “We can all do something to prevent this mental health catastrophe,” Daod says. “We need to acknowledge that first aid is not just needed for the body, but it has also to include the mind, the soul.”

The Refugee Crisis is a Test of our Character

Sixty-five million people were displaced from their homes by conflict and disaster in 2016. It’s not just a crisis; it’s a test of who we are and what we stand for, says David Miliband — and each of us has a personal responsibility to help solve it. In this must-watch talk, Miliband gives us specific, tangible ways to help refugees and turn empathy and altruism into action.

Refugees Want Empowerment not Handouts

The prevailing image of where refugees live is of temporary camps in isolated areas — but in reality, nearly 60 percent of them worldwide end up in urban areas. TED Fellow Robert Hakiza takes us inside the lives of urban refugees — and shows us how organizations like the one that he started can provide them with the skills they need to ultimately become self-sufficient.

Refugees Have the Right to be Protected

António Guterres thinks that we can solve the global refugee crisis — and he offers compelling, surprising reasons why we must try. In conversation with TED’s Bruno Giussani, Guterres discusses the historical causes of the current crisis and outlines the mood of the European countries that are trying to screen, shelter and resettle hundreds of thousands of desperate families. Bigger picture: Guterres calls for a multilateral turn toward acceptance and respect — to defy groups like ISIS’s anti-refugee propaganda and recruiting machine.

Our Refugee System is Failing: Here is how we can fix it

A million refugees arrived in Europe this year, says Alexander Betts, and “our response, frankly, has been pathetic.” Betts studies forced migration, the impossible choice for families between the camps, urban poverty and dangerous illegal journeys to safety. In this insightful talk, he offers four ways to change the way we treat refugees, so they can make an immediate contribution to their new homes. “There’s nothing inevitable about refugees being a cost,” Betts says. “They’re human beings with skills, talents, aspirations, with the ability to make contributions — if we let them.”

What Refugees Need to Start New Lives

Every minute, 20 people are newly displaced by climate change, economic crisis, and political instability, according to the UNHCR. How can we help them overcome the barriers to starting new lives? TED Resident Muhammed Idris is leading a team of technologists, researchers and refugees to develop Atar, the first-ever AI-powered virtual advocate that guides displaced people through resettlement, helping restore their rights and dignity. “Getting access to the right resources and information can be the difference between life and death,” Idris says. Every minute, 20 people are newly displaced by climate change, economic crisis, and political instability, according to the UNHCR. How can we help them overcome the barriers to starting new lives? TED Resident Muhammed Idris is leading a team of technologists, researchers and refugees to develop Atar, the first-ever AI-powered virtual advocate that guides displaced people through resettlement, helping restore their rights and dignity. “Getting access to the right resources and information can be the difference between life and death,” Idris says.