In 2006, Ahmed Badr’s life changed when his house was bombed by militia troops in Baghdad.
“It was shocking really,” he recalls. “You just never expect it to be your home.”
Wearing a dark green suit with a mop of curly dark brown hair, Badr does not fit the refugee stereotype supported by many Americans. The 19-year-old addressed a room of refugees, university students and community members in perfect English, and he captivated his audience with a powerful story.
He then moved to Aleppo, Syria, where he lived for two years with his family. After hearing about a United Nations competition from a bus driver, Badr applied, never expecting a winning result. When his family received four one way tickets to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he was elated.
“Adjusting to the American way of life was a challenge at first, but I soon began to realize the power of storytelling to inspire and bring people together,” he said.
Three years ago, he founded Narratio, an online platform for refugees around the world to share their stories. The site has since expanded in leaps and bounds, garnering over 20 million views worldwide.
“It’s so important to humanize them,” he said. “If we don’t tell their stories, I don’t know who will.”
Badr elaborated, saying he believes that making refugees appear as individuals is especially important given today’s political climate.
At his workshops, Badr starts with telling his own story, and then getting those around him to do the same. The event then progresses onto specific storytelling exercises that encourage participants to introspectively examine their own representation.
“It’s asking questions about how you see yourself and how the world sees you, then connecting the two perspectives.” he said.
Next, participants examine the differences and devise plans of how to collectively and individually represent their experiences. For many refugees, this part is incredibly challenging.
“Embrace the contradictions, embrace the dualities,” Badr advised, citing his personal experience as a young immigrant to the United States.
Badr will conduct a workshop tomorrow at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the North Side Learning Center.
