COMMENT | As a refugee, I’ve learned that survival teaches you things no textbook can. It teaches you resilience, how to build something from nothing, and how to care for others even when you’re struggling.

As a young refugee, I’ve learned that the world often sees us as helpless due to our situation and status, when in fact, we’re already helping each other in ways that go unnoticed.

I still remember when I met a young Rohingya girl whose father had been detained, and the family was left without income, food, or any sense of security.

Her mother came to me in tears, unsure how to feed her children or pay the next month’s rent.

I didn’t have much, but I couldn’t ignore their pain. I talked to a few community members and fundraised through the community, and made sure the family received aid.