How Being A UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Changed Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Perspective On Life Forever

Francoise was a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Uganda. She lost her parents, her husband and children. In 2019 she wrote about her and painted her. Later that year she was nominated and won UNHCR’s regional Nansen Award for Africa. Her parents were found alive and living in the Netherlands. In 2021 she made contact with them. It was an amazing and uplifting news. The pandemic affected many people. They had restricted travel. Françoise had to go through a long resettlement process. Now she can see her family again. For her, it was the best news of the year.

Francoise is a refugee from Syria. She lives in a hostel-style accommodation with five other women from her country. They communicate through acting and they receive €50 a week from the government to buy food. The Netherlands has taken in 75,000 refugees from Ukraine and more than 100,00 refugees. There is no certainty when any of them will have their own home. The Dutch government has had a generous policy of giving safe and legal pathways to displaced people. However, there is also a shortage of housing. Many refugees are left in limbo for longer periods of time. Françoise is one of those who lives there in hope.