Against all the odds, I came to safety. I am strong.

I am a refugee. I have been forced to flee my home and my country because of war, violent conflict, disaster or oppression. I made it to safety, but it was a long dangerous journey. Many people didn’t make it. I’m a survivor.

I am one of 16 million people like me around the world. There are 51 million more people who have sought shelter inside their home country. They are called internally-displaced people (IDP). I could be younger than 5 years old - 13% of refugees are 5 years old or younger. And there’s a 50% chance I’m a child under the age of 18. I am vulnerable.

The cards were stacked against me. I’ve survived days of terrible health, without food or water, walking long distances. I escaped to a camp or a refugee settlement. Against all the odds, I came to safety. I am strong.

Regardless of my age or sex, there is a great chance that I may be forcibly recruited into the military or rebel forces. As long as I’m strong enough to work and hold and fire a gun, I may have no choice. I’m at-risk.

Educated and informed, I can grow the health and happiness of my family. I share what I’ve learned with others. I can improve my community and empower others.

I may be a women - 80% of refugees are women and their children. Refugee women and girls are at great risk of violence, including abduction, domestic abuse, trafficking, and sexual violence and rape. They have no recourse against their attackers. I have little or no protection under the law.

Invest in me and I will be able to feed my family and send my children to school. A small loan of $50 makes a tremendous difference. I will repay the loan 98% of the time and be successful enough to qualify for a bigger loan. I have potential.

When and if I can, I will return to my home. I may have to wait for years and years in a neighboring country and eventually settle in my country of refuge. There is less than a 10% chance that I will make a new life in a third country. I want to go home.