Mohammed

Born in Jordan, no citizenship

My family is Syrian

My parents put me in Taekwondo

I lost I won quit

came back many times

When you love what you do

you will do anything

I decided to compete in Syria

I was only sixteen

To travel was risky, because of war

But Taekwondo ran it ran in my blood

When you love what you do you will do anything

Chorus

Refugees can do things, Refugees can do things

They have dreams, run to your dreams

Even if it's a risk it’s your dream

Because I’m Syrian I had to work more

I had to prove myself

It was a war in sports also

It was so hard but I, I never gave up

When you love what you do you will do anything

When I was competing in Taekwondo
All I could think about was winning
I made all these risks, I cannot lose
I went, I won in, in all of the matches
When you love what you do you will do anything

Came to the US when I was twenty

Now I am a coach

I don’t know how but it is God’s plan

I’m proud of myself what I did in my life

When you love what you do you will do anything

Katherin

I am from Peru, a lawyer

Two years ago on my birthday

My family was threatened by criminals

The next day, I crossed the border

Into Arizona with my brother

It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

The police trashed my bags

My brother and I were separated

I was crying for me, my brother, and my things.

All I had left were the clothes on my back

No food, no drink, no blanket, nothing
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

In a white room, like a large tank

I was very tired, and very cold.

No way to know the time, I had nothing

I slept on the cold floor

It was very hard to stay in that place
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God

This is my greatest strength

After five days, the police told me

“You will leave this place.

We will give you your papers.”

A shelter helped with travel tickets.

My brother was not with me.

It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

I arrived in Cleveland,

I did not speak English

I didn’t have money, or anyone

I didn’t know the transport system.

I need a job, I need the work

It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

One day, I walked into a church

Sat down by virgin Maria

A woman there said she’d help me

I hugged her, I was crying

She reached out to the Hope Center

It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

That’s when I met Ms. Sharon.

She said ‘Oh I like your shoes’

My shoes were all I had left from Peru,

Immediately, I started crying

She helped me find my brother

It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.

This is my greatest strength

Franck

My family is from the DR Congo

But there was war, and there was a genocide

So we migrated to South Africa

My mom raised me and my twin brother.

I admire my mom so much

I am who I am because of us

I am who I am because of us (response)

It was always the four of us

My twin brother, my mom, and my aunt

Mom was doing the best that she could

My aunt stepped up, raised us with my mom

It was hard raising twins, just the two of them

I am who I am because of us

I am who I am because of us (response)

Where I lived there was a lot of crime

Couldn’t afford transport, so we would walk a lot

Mom would go to the park with us

And hand out food to the homeless

Taught me you enjoy life by helping out

I am who I am because of us

I am who I am because of us (response)

Racist residual from apartheid

Mom did not want us where it was unsafe

She was organizing for my aunt

To adopt us in America

That process took six or seven years

I am who I am because of us

I am who I am because of us (response)

My mom said ‘Look in your passport,

You have visas to go to America.’

Moved to Dallas when I was fourteen

Didn’t see my mom for ten years

She really did want us to have better

I am who I am because of us (call)

I am who I am because of us (response)

Evangeline

Going back home, back to India

It was so reflective for me

I didn’t need to adjust, I was just home

And it was really hard to leave

I saw India in a different way

Through the lens of tradition

Seeing my heritage, seeing my culture

I’m so proud to be from there

Chorus

How can I be authentic with my identity?

Who am I, what am I holding on to?

What can I bring back to keep me connected?

I miss home and its traditions

Things we preserve, that get passed down.

Our language, hospitality, knowing our vendors,

Being in the kitchen with my Ajji

I’m a mom to baby Ellie now

She may not experience these things.

How can I show her this in Cleveland?

I think about these questions more

How can I be authentic with my identity?

Who am I, what am I holding on to?

What can I bring back to keep us connected?

When I came here, I lost a bit of who I was

No one talks about how hard it is

To lose a part of yourself

It was a leap of faith,

A fresh start

Still to add:

Eiman

Bakhtavar

Anele