I want you to imagine this you’re having fun with your friends playing games
fun with your friends playing games
fun with your friends playing games laughing having a good time when
laughing having a good time when
laughing having a good time when suddenly before you know it you find
suddenly before you know it you find
suddenly before you know it you find yourself trapped beneath rubble when you
yourself trapped beneath rubble when you
yourself trapped beneath rubble when you are finally pulled out of the rubble
are finally pulled out of the rubble
are finally pulled out of the rubble about an hour or so later you are taken
about an hour or so later you are taken
about an hour or so later you are taken to an ambulance blood dripping from all
to an ambulance blood dripping from all
to an ambulance blood dripping from all over your face
over your face
over your face you’re completely numb
you’re completely numb
you’re completely numb physically and mentally not knowing what
physically and mentally not knowing what
physically and mentally not knowing what had just happened to you or the people
had just happened to you or the people
had just happened to you or the people you love a picture is worth a thousand
you love a picture is worth a thousand
you love a picture is worth a thousand words today we have extremely short
words today we have extremely short
words today we have extremely short attention spans one day images like this
attention spans one day images like this
attention spans one day images like this flood our news feeds but only a few
flood our news feeds but only a few
flood our news feeds but only a few short days later we completely forget
short days later we completely forget
short days later we completely forget about them does anyone even remember his
about them does anyone even remember his
about them does anyone even remember his name his name is Imran we talk about
name his name is Imran we talk about
name his name is Imran we talk about caring for a syrian child but then find
caring for a syrian child but then find
caring for a syrian child but then find ourselves debating whether or not
ourselves debating whether or not
ourselves debating whether or not refugees should be considered human at
refugees should be considered human at
refugees should be considered human at times we call for charity but then
times we call for charity but then
times we call for charity but then become so obsessed over the my new Shah
become so obsessed over the my new Shah
become so obsessed over the my new Shah in our daily lives this is the type of
in our daily lives this is the type of
in our daily lives this is the type of neglect refugees have been facing on a
neglect refugees have been facing on a
neglect refugees have been facing on a daily basis
daily basis
daily basis and in the case of Syria for the past
and in the case of Syria for the past
and in the case of Syria for the past six years since the Syrian conflict
six years since the Syrian conflict
six years since the Syrian conflict first started today according to the
first started today according to the
first started today according to the United Nations Commission for Refugees
United Nations Commission for Refugees
United Nations Commission for Refugees Syrian children are half of the victims
Syrian children are half of the victims
Syrian children are half of the victims of the Syrian conflict young civilians
of the Syrian conflict young civilians
of the Syrian conflict young civilians that had nothing to do with the conflict
that had nothing to do with the conflict
that had nothing to do with the conflict itself think about that for a moment in
itself think about that for a moment in
itself think about that for a moment in an age of our so-called humanity we are
an age of our so-called humanity we are
an age of our so-called humanity we are living in a world where the youngest
living in a world where the youngest
living in a world where the youngest amongst us are the victims of violence
for me that picture from Ron meant
for me that picture from Ron meant something more than just another scene
something more than just another scene
something more than just another scene from war-torn Syria only two weeks prior
from war-torn Syria only two weeks prior
from war-torn Syria only two weeks prior I just come back home from a relief trip
I just come back home from a relief trip
I just come back home from a relief trip to Jordan where I got to spend time with
to Jordan where I got to spend time with
to Jordan where I got to spend time with Syrian children at the Jordanian Syrian
Syrian children at the Jordanian Syrian
Syrian children at the Jordanian Syrian border a mile away from where their
border a mile away from where their
border a mile away from where their parents used to call home because
parents used to call home because
parents used to call home because unfortunately many children like Imran
unfortunately many children like Imran
unfortunately many children like Imran were born into the crisis where they
were born into the crisis where they
were born into the crisis where they have seen more death and destruction in
have seen more death and destruction in
have seen more death and destruction in their lives than life itself to them
their lives than life itself to them
their lives than life itself to them moving from one tattered tent to the
moving from one tattered tent to the
moving from one tattered tent to the next and crossing oceans in rescue boats
next and crossing oceans in rescue boats
next and crossing oceans in rescue boats is the norm here are two refugee sisters
is the norm here are two refugee sisters
is the norm here are two refugee sisters that I got to spend some time with when
that I got to spend some time with when
that I got to spend some time with when I was in Jordan names sharm andthis
I was in Jordan names sharm andthis
I was in Jordan names sharm andthis named ages four and seven they were
named ages four and seven they were
named ages four and seven they were eager to see the group in me and really
eager to see the group in me and really
eager to see the group in me and really enjoy taking selfies when we notice that
enjoy taking selfies when we notice that
enjoy taking selfies when we notice that the sneem in the polkadot dress was on
the sneem in the polkadot dress was on
the sneem in the polkadot dress was on the quieter side it turns out that back
the quieter side it turns out that back
the quieter side it turns out that back in Syria a year earlier she witnessed
in Syria a year earlier she witnessed
in Syria a year earlier she witnessed her grandmother being killed by a
her grandmother being killed by a
her grandmother being killed by a shrapnel bomb
as a result she was traumatized leading
as a result she was traumatized leading her not to speak for about a year as I
her not to speak for about a year as I
her not to speak for about a year as I can attest to it is so easy to fall prey
can attest to it is so easy to fall prey
can attest to it is so easy to fall prey to analysis paralysis and become
to analysis paralysis and become
to analysis paralysis and become hopeless seeing the rising death and
hopeless seeing the rising death and
hopeless seeing the rising death and injury statistics as well as the
injury statistics as well as the
injury statistics as well as the gruesome pictures six years later on the
gruesome pictures six years later on the
gruesome pictures six years later on the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and it
ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and it
ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and it especially hits you when you see it in
especially hits you when you see it in
especially hits you when you see it in person because the sad part is that
person because the sad part is that
person because the sad part is that after I played with the kids for just an
after I played with the kids for just an
after I played with the kids for just an hour and after they clung on to me and
hour and after they clung on to me and
hour and after they clung on to me and cried as I loaded the bus to say goodbye
cried as I loaded the bus to say goodbye
cried as I loaded the bus to say goodbye I could choose to pretend that I did not
I could choose to pretend that I did not
I could choose to pretend that I did not just witness their suffering like here
just witness their suffering like here
just witness their suffering like here where we can just stop in attention to
where we can just stop in attention to
where we can just stop in attention to the news or something else goes viral
the news or something else goes viral
the news or something else goes viral now and we move on overlooking the most
now and we move on overlooking the most
now and we move on overlooking the most horrific human rights catastrophe of our
horrific human rights catastrophe of our
horrific human rights catastrophe of our lives
however we as youth can change that
however we as youth can change that Martin Luther King jr. once said that
Martin Luther King jr. once said that
Martin Luther King jr. once said that change comes from a committed minority
change comes from a committed minority
change comes from a committed minority as youth we are a minority but we have a
as youth we are a minority but we have a
as youth we are a minority but we have a great sphere of influence and yes that
great sphere of influence and yes that
great sphere of influence and yes that includes but should not be limited to
includes but should not be limited to
includes but should not be limited to using social media to further causes
using social media to further causes
using social media to further causes such as these for example I share the
such as these for example I share the
such as these for example I share the news regarding the injustice disease
news regarding the injustice disease
news regarding the injustice disease refugees face as well as the progress
refugees face as well as the progress
refugees face as well as the progress that is being made on my social media
that is being made on my social media
that is being made on my social media pages in hopes of encouraging people to
pages in hopes of encouraging people to
pages in hopes of encouraging people to take notice and to act however what’s
take notice and to act however what’s
take notice and to act however what’s important is that we must be careful not
important is that we must be careful not
important is that we must be careful not to fall into slacktivism feeling like we
to fall into slacktivism feeling like we
to fall into slacktivism feeling like we are making a real difference through
are making a real difference through
are making a real difference through social media alone because frankly
social media alone because frankly
social media alone because frankly it can only go so far I live here in
it can only go so far I live here in
it can only go so far I live here in Lancaster County Pennsylvania recently
Lancaster County Pennsylvania recently
Lancaster County Pennsylvania recently named the refugee capital of the United
named the refugee capital of the United
named the refugee capital of the United States by BBC News however there are
States by BBC News however there are
States by BBC News however there are refugees in many parts of America and
refugees in many parts of America and
refugees in many parts of America and the world and so what can we do to help
the world and so what can we do to help
the world and so what can we do to help well us young people may not have much
well us young people may not have much
well us young people may not have much money to donate and perhaps cannot
money to donate and perhaps cannot
money to donate and perhaps cannot change the situation that is created
change the situation that is created
change the situation that is created this vicious cycle we can at least stand
this vicious cycle we can at least stand
this vicious cycle we can at least stand with these refugees to tell them that if
with these refugees to tell them that if
with these refugees to tell them that if the world has forgotten you we as youth
the world has forgotten you we as youth
the world has forgotten you we as youth have not we can tell them that you are
have not we can tell them that you are
have not we can tell them that you are just as valuable of a young human being
just as valuable of a young human being
just as valuable of a young human being as we are we can also smile at them
as we are we can also smile at them
as we are we can also smile at them spend time with them rather than having
spend time with them rather than having
spend time with them rather than having them feel alone we can work together to
them feel alone we can work together to
them feel alone we can work together to help them be at home and include them in
help them be at home and include them in
help them be at home and include them in our communities we can befriend them
our communities we can befriend them
our communities we can befriend them well it’s definitely an eye-opening
well it’s definitely an eye-opening
well it’s definitely an eye-opening experience I’m not asking for everyone
experience I’m not asking for everyone
experience I’m not asking for everyone to go see refugees overseas I’m saying
to go see refugees overseas I’m saying
to go see refugees overseas I’m saying you can make a difference right here in
you can make a difference right here in
you can make a difference right here in your hometown here’s how so you would
your hometown here’s how so you would
your hometown here’s how so you would help your local refugee agency needs
help your local refugee agency needs
help your local refugee agency needs when I did I found that they had very
when I did I found that they had very
when I did I found that they had very basic needs including needing help at a
basic needs including needing help at a
basic needs including needing help at a potluck dinner checking in on a family
potluck dinner checking in on a family
potluck dinner checking in on a family every so often taking kids on an outing
every so often taking kids on an outing
every so often taking kids on an outing or tutoring English these are all
or tutoring English these are all
or tutoring English these are all activities that most all of us can do
activities that most all of us can do
activities that most all of us can do and while they take just a little of our
and while they take just a little of our
and while they take just a little of our time they can make a big difference in
time they can make a big difference in
time they can make a big difference in their lives
their lives
their lives because there was a time when they were
because there was a time when they were
because there was a time when they were living their lives peacefully and never
living their lives peacefully and never
living their lives peacefully and never imagined that they’d be in the situation
imagined that they’d be in the situation
imagined that they’d be in the situation that they’re sitting in today so get to
that they’re sitting in today so get to
that they’re sitting in today so get to know the refugees in your community I
know the refugees in your community I
know the refugees in your community I mean isn’t that what you would want them
mean isn’t that what you would want them
mean isn’t that what you would want them to do for you if you were in their shoes
one of the most important things that
one of the most important things that I’ve learned through
I’ve learned through
I’ve learned through working with refugees here in Lancaster
working with refugees here in Lancaster
working with refugees here in Lancaster and through my trip is that while they
and through my trip is that while they
and through my trip is that while they appreciate our financial support they
appreciate our financial support they
appreciate our financial support they would appreciate our time and our
would appreciate our time and our
would appreciate our time and our understanding they want us to be a voice
understanding they want us to be a voice
understanding they want us to be a voice in exposing their story to the world
in exposing their story to the world
in exposing their story to the world these refugees feel like no one’s been
these refugees feel like no one’s been
these refugees feel like no one’s been listening to them for the past six years
listening to them for the past six years
listening to them for the past six years the refugees that I have met are more
the refugees that I have met are more
the refugees that I have met are more than willing to share their stories with
than willing to share their stories with
than willing to share their stories with me not to complain but because it’s a
me not to complain but because it’s a
me not to complain but because it’s a privilege I have as an American and so
privilege I have as an American and so
privilege I have as an American and so you I we should all be doing something
you I we should all be doing something
you I we should all be doing something about this we need to denormalize
about this we need to denormalize
about this we need to denormalize extreme suffering millions of people
extreme suffering millions of people
extreme suffering millions of people around the world are going through sea
around the world are going through sea
around the world are going through sea raising money is good but we need to
raising money is good but we need to
raising money is good but we need to move beyond that each one of us needs to
move beyond that each one of us needs to
move beyond that each one of us needs to really commit ourselves especially as
really commit ourselves especially as
really commit ourselves especially as young people in whatever way we can and
young people in whatever way we can and
young people in whatever way we can and find our role in alleviating the
find our role in alleviating the
find our role in alleviating the suffering around us even if we cannot
suffering around us even if we cannot
suffering around us even if we cannot change the situation moving forward we
change the situation moving forward we
change the situation moving forward we can educate ourselves use our spheres of
can educate ourselves use our spheres of
can educate ourselves use our spheres of influence to amplify the refugees voices
influence to amplify the refugees voices
influence to amplify the refugees voices on a consistent basis rejected those and
on a consistent basis rejected those and
on a consistent basis rejected those and positions of power or simply spend time
positions of power or simply spend time
positions of power or simply spend time with refugees in our own backyards
with refugees in our own backyards
with refugees in our own backyards because we cannot wait for another
because we cannot wait for another
because we cannot wait for another picture of an injured or dead child to
picture of an injured or dead child to
picture of an injured or dead child to act these are actual people youth just
act these are actual people youth just
act these are actual people youth just like us with your help my help our help
like us with your help my help our help
like us with your help my help our help we can make a big difference in their
we can make a big difference in their
we can make a big difference in their lives once we do we will see the change
lives once we do we will see the change
lives once we do we will see the change that we are making and that’s something
that we are making and that’s something
that we are making and that’s something we’ll want to remember because as the
we’ll want to remember because as the
we’ll want to remember because as the saying goes a picture is worth a
saying goes a picture is worth a
saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words thank you
thousand words thank you
thousand words thank you [Applause]
”
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