right now what would you take with you if you were forced to leave your home if
if you were forced to leave your home if
if you were forced to leave your home if you are unsure whether you will ever be
you are unsure whether you will ever be
you are unsure whether you will ever be able to return to that home having to
able to return to that home having to
able to return to that home having to spend the rest of your life wishing you
spend the rest of your life wishing you
spend the rest of your life wishing you had never left when my grandfather was
had never left when my grandfather was
had never left when my grandfather was nine years old he did not have time to
nine years old he did not have time to
nine years old he did not have time to think of answers to these questions he
think of answers to these questions he
think of answers to these questions he was forcibly removed from his home with
was forcibly removed from his home with
was forcibly removed from his home with his family from Yaffa to Nablus another
his family from Yaffa to Nablus another
his family from Yaffa to Nablus another city in Palestine where they found
city in Palestine where they found
city in Palestine where they found shelter in a mosque in Nablus after
shelter in a mosque in Nablus after
shelter in a mosque in Nablus after living there for a few years they
living there for a few years they
living there for a few years they realized there was no going back home
realized there was no going back home
realized there was no going back home and they resettle into a refugee camp in
and they resettle into a refugee camp in
and they resettle into a refugee camp in Nablus where my grandfather got married
Nablus where my grandfather got married
Nablus where my grandfather got married and raised his children meanwhile in
and raised his children meanwhile in
and raised his children meanwhile in Gaza my mom was also growing up in an
Gaza my mom was also growing up in an
Gaza my mom was also growing up in an apartment in Gaza as a result of her own
apartment in Gaza as a result of her own
apartment in Gaza as a result of her own parents being forcibly removed from
parents being forcibly removed from
parents being forcibly removed from their homes my father my grandfather is
their homes my father my grandfather is
their homes my father my grandfather is currently only one in four million
currently only one in four million
currently only one in four million displaced Palestinian refugees after
displaced Palestinian refugees after
displaced Palestinian refugees after growing up in refugee camps in Gaza and
growing up in refugee camps in Gaza and
growing up in refugee camps in Gaza and Nablus my parents finished most of their
Nablus my parents finished most of their
Nablus my parents finished most of their high school education in Palestine and
high school education in Palestine and
high school education in Palestine and then both got an opportunity to study
then both got an opportunity to study
then both got an opportunity to study abroad in a high school in Canada where
abroad in a high school in Canada where
abroad in a high school in Canada where they met after finishing high school
they met after finishing high school
they met after finishing high school they both went on to get their bas and
they both went on to get their bas and
they both went on to get their bas and PhD is from colleges and universities in
PhD is from colleges and universities in
PhD is from colleges and universities in France and the United States and after
France and the United States and after
France and the United States and after finishing their studies they decided to
finishing their studies they decided to
finishing their studies they decided to move to pala tute back to Palestine in a
move to pala tute back to Palestine in a
move to pala tute back to Palestine in a city called them on lo where I grew up
city called them on lo where I grew up
city called them on lo where I grew up they had me my brother and sister we all
they had me my brother and sister we all
they had me my brother and sister we all went to a high school in Ramallah called
went to a high school in Ramallah called
went to a high school in Ramallah called the Ramon lafrenze school and I
the Ramon lafrenze school and I
the Ramon lafrenze school and I graduated in May of 2016 after
graduated in May of 2016 after
graduated in May of 2016 after graduating from high school I decided I
graduating from high school I decided I
graduating from high school I decided I want to continue my education at
want to continue my education at
want to continue my education at Macalester College a college at st. Paul
Macalester College a college at st. Paul
Macalester College a college at st. Paul Minnesota in the United States my name
Minnesota in the United States my name
Minnesota in the United States my name is nella and biood I’m a student at
is nella and biood I’m a student at
is nella and biood I’m a student at Macalester College and both of my
Macalester College and both of my
Macalester College and both of my parents are refugees and I am Bo Kim and
parents are refugees and I am Bo Kim and
parents are refugees and I am Bo Kim and I’m a recent graduate of
I’m a recent graduate of
I’m a recent graduate of College McAllister and unlike natheless
College McAllister and unlike natheless
College McAllister and unlike natheless parents my mother did not grow up in a
parents my mother did not grow up in a
parents my mother did not grow up in a refugee camp but rather through
refugee camp but rather through
refugee camp but rather through political turmoil in Korea and
political turmoil in Korea and
political turmoil in Korea and eventually immigrating to the United
eventually immigrating to the United
eventually immigrating to the United States and I consider to have walked a
States and I consider to have walked a
States and I consider to have walked a path called privilege as a
path called privilege as a
path called privilege as a first-generation citizen of the United
first-generation citizen of the United
first-generation citizen of the United States and it was only until I entered
States and it was only until I entered
States and it was only until I entered high school in the outskirts of
high school in the outskirts of
high school in the outskirts of Philadelphia coincidentally a sister
Philadelphia coincidentally a sister
Philadelphia coincidentally a sister school to Ramallah smack in Ramallah
school to Ramallah smack in Ramallah
school to Ramallah smack in Ramallah that I started hearing these stories
that I started hearing these stories
that I started hearing these stories family stories from friends and similar
family stories from friends and similar
family stories from friends and similar to natha’s parents and grandparents I
to natha’s parents and grandparents I
to natha’s parents and grandparents I began realizing that refugee stories
began realizing that refugee stories
began realizing that refugee stories like theirs were far to comment
like theirs were far to comment
like theirs were far to comment unfortunately and but as a as a Korean
unfortunately and but as a as a Korean
unfortunately and but as a as a Korean American at the time who may seem at
American at the time who may seem at
American at the time who may seem at first very removed and disconnected from
first very removed and disconnected from
first very removed and disconnected from the refugee crisis I still kept asking
the refugee crisis I still kept asking
the refugee crisis I still kept asking myself what is there that I could do is
myself what is there that I could do is
myself what is there that I could do is there anything that I could do and what
there anything that I could do and what
there anything that I could do and what does it mean for me to be trapped in
does it mean for me to be trapped in
does it mean for me to be trapped in this question of why do I care what does
this question of why do I care what does
this question of why do I care what does it mean for us to care I began carrying
it mean for us to care I began carrying
it mean for us to care I began carrying because it was a moral ethical and
because it was a moral ethical and
because it was a moral ethical and humanitarian issue between the time I
humanitarian issue between the time I
humanitarian issue between the time I enter high school in 2009 and was ready
enter high school in 2009 and was ready
enter high school in 2009 and was ready to graduate in 2013 the total refugee
to graduate in 2013 the total refugee
to graduate in 2013 the total refugee population of 10 million refugees began
population of 10 million refugees began
population of 10 million refugees began to rise sharply as a direct and tragic
to rise sharply as a direct and tragic
to rise sharply as a direct and tragic result of the Syrian Arab Republic
result of the Syrian Arab Republic
result of the Syrian Arab Republic conflicts by my first year at Macalester
conflicts by my first year at Macalester
conflicts by my first year at Macalester there was one in thirteen people 113
there was one in thirteen people 113
there was one in thirteen people 113 people who are displaced by war violence
people who are displaced by war violence
people who are displaced by war violence and persecution and by the time I was a
and persecution and by the time I was a
and persecution and by the time I was a junior at my college and when Nala was
junior at my college and when Nala was
junior at my college and when Nala was getting ready to enter college we are
getting ready to enter college we are
getting ready to enter college we are facing a tragical moment industry where
facing a tragical moment industry where
facing a tragical moment industry where there are more displaced people now than
there are more displaced people now than
there are more displaced people now than ever before
Nala and I began caring and we cared
Nala and I began caring and we cared because we believe that there is
because we believe that there is
because we believe that there is something there must be something that
something there must be something that
something there must be something that we can do to have an impact on the sixty
we can do to have an impact on the sixty
we can do to have an impact on the sixty five point six million forcibly
five point six million forcibly
five point six million forcibly displaced people worldwide
displaced people worldwide
displaced people worldwide so we began researching
so we began researching
so we began researching most refugees and displaced people are
most refugees and displaced people are
most refugees and displaced people are concentrated in the Middle East West
concentrated in the Middle East West
concentrated in the Middle East West Asia particularly in Syria today
Asia particularly in Syria today
Asia particularly in Syria today according to the UNHCR there are about
according to the UNHCR there are about
according to the UNHCR there are about 5.5 million Syrian refugees that are
5.5 million Syrian refugees that are
5.5 million Syrian refugees that are registered with the number continuing to
registered with the number continuing to
registered with the number continuing to rise due to the unending conflict now I
rise due to the unending conflict now I
rise due to the unending conflict now I want you to pause for a second and ask
want you to pause for a second and ask
want you to pause for a second and ask yourself were you aware of the extent of
yourself were you aware of the extent of
yourself were you aware of the extent of this crisis in the Middle East before
this crisis in the Middle East before
this crisis in the Middle East before coming in here today a group of students
coming in here today a group of students
coming in here today a group of students here at McAlister no longer wanted to
here at McAlister no longer wanted to
here at McAlister no longer wanted to feel hopeless and specifically a student
feel hopeless and specifically a student
feel hopeless and specifically a student now alumna a Syrian student called Farah
now alumna a Syrian student called Farah
now alumna a Syrian student called Farah had that decided to gather students
had that decided to gather students
had that decided to gather students including Beau and I to get to form a
including Beau and I to get to form a
including Beau and I to get to form a group of students who can help with the
group of students who can help with the
group of students who can help with the crisis we began our work in fall of 2016
crisis we began our work in fall of 2016
crisis we began our work in fall of 2016 and we started to come up with ways in
and we started to come up with ways in
and we started to come up with ways in which simple college students can help
which simple college students can help
which simple college students can help alleviate this refugee crisis Ann our
alleviate this refugee crisis Ann our
alleviate this refugee crisis Ann our team quickly realized that there is a
team quickly realized that there is a
team quickly realized that there is a specific way for us to be of help by
specific way for us to be of help by
specific way for us to be of help by creating equitable access to higher
creating equitable access to higher
creating equitable access to higher education for these display students in
education for these display students in
education for these display students in this framework of the Syrian refugee
this framework of the Syrian refugee
this framework of the Syrian refugee crisis but to get to this conclusion we
crisis but to get to this conclusion we
crisis but to get to this conclusion we had to do various things in addition to
had to do various things in addition to
had to do various things in addition to just research on our campus we led an
just research on our campus we led an
just research on our campus we led an international roundtable talk on the
international roundtable talk on the
international roundtable talk on the topic of sustainability in refugee camps
topic of sustainability in refugee camps
topic of sustainability in refugee camps participated in the campus-wide teaching
participated in the campus-wide teaching
participated in the campus-wide teaching series where we educated our peers
series where we educated our peers
series where we educated our peers faculty and staff not only that but we
faculty and staff not only that but we
faculty and staff not only that but we also create an academic course just to
also create an academic course just to
also create an academic course just to better understand the framework of the
better understand the framework of the
better understand the framework of the historical context and future
historical context and future
historical context and future implications of the crisis
even though in the past decade or so the
even though in the past decade or so the focus of colleges on accepting
focus of colleges on accepting
focus of colleges on accepting international students has gone up we
international students has gone up we
international students has gone up we realized that as a collective we need to
realized that as a collective we need to
realized that as a collective we need to work more closely with colleges and
work more closely with colleges and
work more closely with colleges and universities to increase their admission
universities to increase their admission
universities to increase their admission of specifically displaced and refugee
of specifically displaced and refugee
of specifically displaced and refugee students the colleges need to focus
students the colleges need to focus
students the colleges need to focus their multicultural and internationalism
their multicultural and internationalism
their multicultural and internationalism values to attract more and admit more
values to attract more and admit more
values to attract more and admit more refugee and display students and provide
refugee and display students and provide
refugee and display students and provide them with the edge with the help that
them with the edge with the help that
them with the edge with the help that they need to reach these institutions
they need to reach these institutions
they need to reach these institutions and to give you just a background of not
and to give you just a background of not
and to give you just a background of not less points currently over half of all
less points currently over half of all
less points currently over half of all serious university students have had to
serious university students have had to
serious university students have had to terminate their higher education or
terminate their higher education or
terminate their higher education or studies and up to two hundred thousand
studies and up to two hundred thousand
studies and up to two hundred thousand Syrian youth are currently displaced
Syrian youth are currently displaced
Syrian youth are currently displaced from their access to a higher education
from their access to a higher education
from their access to a higher education opportunity this is why it is critical
opportunity this is why it is critical
opportunity this is why it is critical today that partnerships exist with
today that partnerships exist with
today that partnerships exist with colleges and organizations like the
colleges and organizations like the
colleges and organizations like the International Institute of Education and
International Institute of Education and
International Institute of Education and just sort the overarching mission of
just sort the overarching mission of
just sort the overarching mission of these type of organizations is to
these type of organizations is to
these type of organizations is to connect display students with the
connect display students with the
connect display students with the opportunity for them to continue
opportunity for them to continue
opportunity for them to continue pursuing higher education to give you an
pursuing higher education to give you an
pursuing higher education to give you an example they’re joining a joint program
example they’re joining a joint program
example they’re joining a joint program called the Syria and consortium
called the Syria and consortium
called the Syria and consortium particularly it works with international
particularly it works with international
particularly it works with international admissions programs here in the United
admissions programs here in the United
admissions programs here in the United States and colleges to bridge the gap
States and colleges to bridge the gap
States and colleges to bridge the gap when it comes to omitting and finding a
when it comes to omitting and finding a
when it comes to omitting and finding a Syrian refugee student such programming
Syrian refugee student such programming
Syrian refugee student such programming provides colleges and universities with
provides colleges and universities with
provides colleges and universities with the unique opportunity to be able to
the unique opportunity to be able to
the unique opportunity to be able to accept and admit and ensure the
accept and admit and ensure the
accept and admit and ensure the well-being of displaced and refugee
well-being of displaced and refugee
well-being of displaced and refugee students within their institutions up to
students within their institutions up to
students within their institutions up to this point there is more than 40
this point there is more than 40
this point there is more than 40 colleges and universities worldwide
colleges and universities worldwide
colleges and universities worldwide including our own institution who have
including our own institution who have
including our own institution who have signed on to IIE Syria Consortium for
signed on to IIE Syria Consortium for
signed on to IIE Syria Consortium for higher education misson mission which
higher education misson mission which
higher education misson mission which highlights the growing interest of these
highlights the growing interest of these
highlights the growing interest of these colleges and universities and their
colleges and universities and their
colleges and universities and their understanding of the critical nosov this
understanding of the critical nosov this
understanding of the critical nosov this issue so what can you do to help we need
issue so what can you do to help we need
issue so what can you do to help we need you to step in right now to help us with
you to step in right now to help us with
you to step in right now to help us with our mission the only reason I am able to
our mission the only reason I am able to
our mission the only reason I am able to be here today the only reason I am able
be here today the only reason I am able
be here today the only reason I am able to
to
to this higher education institution is
this higher education institution is
this higher education institution is because my parents were provided with
because my parents were provided with
because my parents were provided with the opportunity and the financial aid
the opportunity and the financial aid
the opportunity and the financial aid they needed to go from these refugee
they needed to go from these refugee
they needed to go from these refugee camps to go it on and attend high school
camps to go it on and attend high school
camps to go it on and attend high school and universities in different parts of
and universities in different parts of
and universities in different parts of the world and therefore we believe that
the world and therefore we believe that
the world and therefore we believe that there needs to be an expansion of
there needs to be an expansion of
there needs to be an expansion of colleges and universities who work
colleges and universities who work
colleges and universities who work together to admit a higher number of
together to admit a higher number of
together to admit a higher number of specifically displaced in refugee
specifically displaced in refugee
specifically displaced in refugee students we suggest the following
students we suggest the following
students we suggest the following framework first of all you have to start
framework first of all you have to start
framework first of all you have to start with gaining administrative approval and
with gaining administrative approval and
with gaining administrative approval and procurement of funds to ensure that you
procurement of funds to ensure that you
procurement of funds to ensure that you can afford that the institutions can
can afford that the institutions can
can afford that the institutions can afford hosting these students secondly
afford hosting these students secondly
afford hosting these students secondly there needs to be recruitment and
there needs to be recruitment and
there needs to be recruitment and admission of these students to the
admission of these students to the
admission of these students to the institutions and finally there needs to
institutions and finally there needs to
institutions and finally there needs to be a long term commitment to these
be a long term commitment to these
be a long term commitment to these students and their well-being within the
students and their well-being within the
students and their well-being within the institutions to ensure their success
institutions to ensure their success
institutions to ensure their success within their new environment and let us
within their new environment and let us
within their new environment and let us bring it back to a full circle I want
bring it back to a full circle I want
bring it back to a full circle I want you to recall the questions that we
you to recall the questions that we
you to recall the questions that we asked at the beginning of our talk what
asked at the beginning of our talk what
asked at the beginning of our talk what does it mean for someone to be forcibly
does it mean for someone to be forcibly
does it mean for someone to be forcibly removed from their home what does it
removed from their home what does it
removed from their home what does it mean for them to not know whether they
mean for them to not know whether they
mean for them to not know whether they will be able to go back to what was so
will be able to go back to what was so
will be able to go back to what was so familiar to them like Nala’s parents
familiar to them like Nala’s parents
familiar to them like Nala’s parents most refugees never know where they’re
most refugees never know where they’re
most refugees never know where they’re going to end up what will happen to them
going to end up what will happen to them
going to end up what will happen to them let alone their families or loved ones
let alone their families or loved ones
let alone their families or loved ones so we believe that it is our
so we believe that it is our
so we believe that it is our responsibility as abled people who have
responsibility as abled people who have
responsibility as abled people who have access to resources to retain hope and
access to resources to retain hope and
access to resources to retain hope and act upon the needs of local national and
act upon the needs of local national and
act upon the needs of local national and international communities and yes we
international communities and yes we
international communities and yes we outlined one way that we can be of help
outlined one way that we can be of help
outlined one way that we can be of help and make an impact on the overarching
and make an impact on the overarching
and make an impact on the overarching refugee crisis through higher education
refugee crisis through higher education
refugee crisis through higher education but our call to action reaches farther
but our call to action reaches farther
but our call to action reaches farther than that it can begin with the story
than that it can begin with the story
than that it can begin with the story try listening to each other’s to each
try listening to each other’s to each
try listening to each other’s to each other your peers your colleagues your
other your peers your colleagues your
other your peers your colleagues your neighbors their families bring these
neighbors their families bring these
neighbors their families bring these issues up at your next meeting business
issues up at your next meeting business
issues up at your next meeting business businesses communities teams even at
businesses communities teams even at
businesses communities teams even at your next game because we believe that
your next game because we believe that
your next game because we believe that you have a fundamental choice whether to
you have a fundamental choice whether to
you have a fundamental choice whether to and that what we share with you today is
and that what we share with you today is
and that what we share with you today is irrelevant to falsely assume that the
irrelevant to falsely assume that the
irrelevant to falsely assume that the issue is too massive or to stay active
issue is too massive or to stay active
issue is too massive or to stay active and involved to make a positive impact
and involved to make a positive impact
and involved to make a positive impact on the members of a community who are
on the members of a community who are
on the members of a community who are displaced throughout the world thank you
displaced throughout the world thank you
displaced throughout the world thank you [Applause]
”
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