Humans in Flight

HUMANS IN FLIGHT

FRESH IDEAS FOR A NEW WORLD

NEWS

FEATURE STORY

EXPLAINERS

REFLECTIONS

POEMS

NEWS

NEWS: by John Jonaid

Senate of Canada Officially Recognizes Humans in Flight for Outstanding Civic Engagement

The Senate of Canada has officially recognized the Humans in Flight project at an event held on Parliament Hill, attended by various stakeholders, including MPs and senators.

NEWS: by John Jonaid

Standing Up for Women in Afghanistan: A Protest at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto

The rally, entitled “No to the Taliban: Call to Action Against Hazara Genocide and Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan” was organized by a grassroots network of local advocates.

FEATURE STORY

Feature story by Stephen Watt

Taking a Chance: Stephen Watt on the Rewards of Volunteering with Refugees

The private sponsorship program is a way for ordinary Canadians to make a huge and positive impact in the lives of persecuted people around the world. Stephen Watt tells the story of how he got involved, and the rewards of volunteering with refugees and newcomers.

Feature story by John Jonaid

From Refugee to CEO: Aline Nizigama on the Importance of Giving Back

Aline Nizigama's evolution from refugee to CEO is a story of resilience and perseverance. She fled her home country of Burundi in East Africa 25 years ago due to political instability and violence. Through the tough times, she remembered the wisdom of her parents, and the gifts of those who helped her along the way.

Feature story by John Jonaid

From Refugee to Writer-in-Residence: The Inspiring Journey of Shams Erfan

Shams Erfan's journey from surviving Taliban attacks in Afghanistan to being a Writer-in-Residence at George Brown College in Canada shows the power of hope and determination. He is one of the first Hazara refugees to break barriers and make history.

Feature story: by Jamaluddin Aram

Why I Write: Jamaluddin Aram and the Power of Storytelling

Jamaluddin Aram has been many things: a documentary maker, a film producer, and most recently and prominently, a writer. His book Nothing Good Happens in Waziristan on Wednesday tells a story of an Afghanistan and a people often overlooked by the headlines. Here he explains what drives him as a writer.

EXPLAINERS

EXPLAINER: by Mohammad Nasim Mohammadi

Discrimination and Injustice: The Plight of Hazaras in Afghanistan

The persecution of the Hazaras of Afghanistan goes back centuries, and has escalated into a full-blown genocide under Taliban rule. What we can do to help.

EXPLAINER: by John Jonaid

The Rohingya Refugees and their Quest for Justice

Shedding light on the prolonged struggle for justice faced by Rohingya refugees who escaped the horrors of genocide in Myanmar.

EXPLAINER: by John Jonaid

Current Refugee Crises and How the World Can Do Better

The global refugee crisis has dominated headlines as millions of people flee their homes in pursuit of safety and peace. A brief analysis of the Syrian civil conflict, the Rohingya and Hazara exodus, and the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine and Palestine.

EXPLAINER: By Yomn Elsawy

Causes of the Global Refugee Crisis and Canada's Response

There may be now more refugees in any time in human history. The top three causes of the currrent crisis, and Canada's modest role in providing solutions.

EXPLAINER: by John Jonaid and Stephen Watt

Q&A: Humans in Flight Explained

" Humans in flight is a way for us to define ourselves, as refugees who came to Canada after fleeing war, conflict and genocide in their homelands."

EXPLAINER: by John Jonaid

The Global Refugee Crisis, in Brief

Locking up refugees is no solution to the global movement of people displaced by war and other calamities. A brief essay by one who has experienced the system first-hand .

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTION: by Shams Erfan

Walking Free

A winter trek with friends at a new world castle in Toronto and the cold, bracing air of freedom, bring back memories of a time, not that long ago, when freedom was a faraway dream.

REFLECTION: by Shams Erfan, John Jonaid and Stephen Watt

Detention, Freedom and Humans in Flight

As night falls on the Toronto skyline, four friends consider the meaning of detention and freedom, and a new project takes flight.

REFLECTION: by Shams Erfan

First Winter in Canada

Memories of winters in Afghanistan rub against the author's new reality in Canada, and the results are not entirely unpleasant. A reverie in prose.

REFLECTION: by Shams Erfan

My Life at 5 am

Pour some coffee, listen to the morning birds, and consider how it might be possible to make the world a better place.

REFLECTION: by Nasim Mohammadi

No Matter How Hard the Past...

A refugee in Indonesia talks about the struggles of life in limbo, the importance of resilience, and the ray of hope offered to the lucky few who manage to take advantage of the private sponsorship program.

POEMS

POETRY: by Lila Birrell

In the Kitchen

"John found his smile in our kitchen." A poem about John Jonaid, co-founder of Humans in Flight - by the teenaged daughter of one of his sponsors.

POETRY: by John Jonaid

The Weary Souls

A moving reminder of the struggles faced by those who have been forced to flee their homes and the impact that this has on their daily lives.