Let me introduce you to five friends and family who are courageously seeking to make life work in nations much different from theirs. They carry the ‘refugee’ identity with great honor and responsibility. Haitham and Abeer are Syrians now living in Germany. They live with a local family with whom they now share very close bonds. Living in Germany, […]
Back in the mid 90’s while living in Germany, I became personally aware of the plight of refugees. At that time, the Balkan wars were raging and Muslim refugees were coming to Germany. The were being housed in building where many lived together. One day, one of the buildings was burned out and the people […]
These days in Bogotá, Colombia, one can find Venezuelans everywhere. Many are roaming the streets looking for work, others are asking for a coin to buy bread. It is heart-wrenching to see young kids in odd-sized clothing and dirty faces with either Mom or Dad looking sad and forelorn. Colombia, with over 20 million more in […]
On this Malaria Day 2019, when African nations are at the focus of global attempts at eradication, one of the most tragic malaria epidemics exists in Venezuela. Venezuela was the first nation in the world to be certified by the World Health Organization for eradicating malaria in its most populated areas, beating the United States and other […]
Dear friends, the situation in Venezuela is very critical at the moment. In the last two weeks the electricity and water supply has been severely limited in 95% of the country due primarily to the lack to maintenance and qualified personnel to properly run it. Maduro rule is literally destroying the people in this nation. […]
Last Saturday a heroic attempt to bring food and medical supplies into Venezuela failed. Two of the trucks that pushed through were burned as they attempted to cross the border. One of the drivers was killed. Young people tried to salvage what they could from the burning vehicles while others threw rocks under clouds of […]
This coming weekend, a slow but decisive process of change is launching. More than 50 nations have recognized Interim President Juan Guaidó who has put in place a recovery plan that starts with Humanitarian Aid of Food and Medicines. Maduro has said that the aid will not come and no one knows what will happen. […]
A few days ago I met Eitaro and Tamae originally from Osaka. Common friends Boon and Cheryl Lim brought me over to their apartment to bid them good bye. Eitaro and Tamae have been living in Singapore enriching lives through their artistic gifts. After several years, they are now relocating to Okinawa. Back in 2001, […]
Dr. Carlos Bravo knew what fate awaited him. Sebin (Venezuelan Secret Service) had been harassing him for broadcasting videos and commenting on the situation at the University Hospital, one of many hospitals whose capacity to serve patients has effectively been stripped by a government who does not care for the needs of its people. The […]
Yesterday on my flight out of Athens, I was asked what was I doing there. I had a chance to tell this local expat about the work Philemon and the StreetLights team is doing serving refugees. She was surprised to hear that refugees were being cared for by locals! Once again, I found that there […]
