Lily4RefugeesVoices!

I often wish more refugees would use their voice and speak openly about their difficult and painful experiences and life journey as war refugees. In the last decades only a few refugees amazed me with their stories and talents. One of them is German–Lebanese pop and opera singer and artist Fady Maalouf. He is known as the runner-up of the fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol. He has released three albums to date, Blessed (2008), Into the Light (2010) and City of Gold (2012). 

This young man literally amazed me with his voice, charisma and life story. If you don’t know his music yet, watch his music videos here or on YouTube and listen to his truly angelic and amazing voice on Spotify. If more refugees would and could find the courage to speak out, more people around the world would understand the dysfunctional refugee policy and rules violating human and children's rights in every level. I wish all war refugees would use their voice and become as strong as the LGBT community and the climate change activist worldwide to stop the bureaucracy madness and allow people to live a happy and peaceful life far away from home and war zones like Lebanon. Lebanon was once called the second Paris of the Middle East until war destroyed lives and the country. 

Two explosions ripped through Beirut on 4 August 2020 and killed more than 170 people and injured about 6500 people. Dozens more people remain missing and the death toll continues to rise as search and rescue operations went on. More than 300 000 people are now displaced from their homes amid a severe economic crisis that had pushed many Lebanese and refugees deeper into poverty and an already overwhelmed health system caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Many people are dealing with trauma caused by the explosion and need mental health and psychosocial support. Many have lost loved ones. UNHCR is working with community organizations to provide psychological first aid, help identify the missing, and refer people in need to specialized services, all while delivering aid. 

Source: UNHCR 

Youtube: FadyMaaloufVEVO 

Amazed

 

Blessed

 

 Show me your love  

Into the light

 Stand with Lebanon | Give Now (unhcr.org) 

Happy Norooz 1400

Happy Norroz, Happy New Iranian New Year everyone! 

It is an exciting number. An entire century is coming to an end and we are welcoming 

1400! 

May the new century be filled with love, joy, and happiness for all the Iranians around the globe. 

May all your wishes, dreams, goals, and desires come true!

Go to Countdown!

"Welcome To Germany" the Refugee Comedy Film!

If you haven’t seen the German Refugee Comedy film “Welcome to Germany” from 2016 yet, I highly recommend watching it asap. Welcome to Germany (Original German film title “Willkommen bei den Hartmanns”) was with good reasons a German box office sensation. There are so many important messages in this film. It stars Senta Berger as retired headteacher Angelika and Belgian actor Eric Kabongo as Diallo, the Nigerian she meets in a refugee shelter. Angelika’s decision to offer him a home triggers a series of life-changing events in her family.

This film makes an explicit reference to German chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to welcome a large number of refugees into Germany and Europe. Angelika’s husband played by Heiner Lauterbach is resistant to her plans, at one point he says: “It’s enough for Frau Merkel to invite the entire third world into our country – we’re not going to do the same in our home as well.”

Even though the refugee topic is highly delicate, the producers made an excellent job along with famous and talented German actors such as Heiner Lauterbach, Elyas M’Barek, Florian David Fitz, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Eric Kabongo, Senta Berger, and Palina Rojinksi. I won’t do any spoilers, but trust me this movie is a funny, inspiring, eye-opening, and educational film regardless of age, life story, and opinion about refugees in general.

After Auschwitz Documentary!

If you haven’t watched the documentary “After Auschwitz” from 2017 yet, I highly recommend watching it asap. It looks at Six Survivors and their Lives. It is heartbreaking, eye-opening and a reminder for all of us that unfortunately, nothing has changed since World War II. Today’s refugees suffer the same way like these six ladies did back in the 40es after the end of World War II.

For survivors, liberation from the camps was the beginning of a lifelong struggle. They wanted to go home, but there was no home left in Europe. They went to America and wanted to tell people about their pasts but were silenced for over three decades. "You're in America now, put it behind you". That’s what the Americans told them. “After Auschwitz” is a "Post-Holocaust" documentary that captures what it means to survive and try to live a “normal” life after unspeakable tragedy!

Six extraordinary women who all survived Auschwitz take us on their journey. All these women moved to Los Angeles, married, raised children, and became "Americans" but they never truly found a place to call home. That’s how refugees feel today. Their unbelievable journey, sometimes celebratory, sometimes heartbreaking but always inspiring is a must-see for everyone regardless of age, life story, and opinion about refugees in general. 

Wohoo...Spring is around the corner!

 

Spring 2021 is around the corner, but we have already been experiencing the most beautiful, warm, and sunny February ever. It is wonderful to feel the sun and see the beauty of life again. We all are tired of this non-ending pandemic. The winter months have been very hard for all of and the daily news is exhausting for our mind, body, and soul. That’s why it is so important for our mental health to get out and don’t let all this negativity affect our daily life and brainwash our mind.

We are dealing with this unusual situation for over a year now, and I’m afraid this horrible and extremely challenging time will go on for the upcoming months if not years! It won’t disappear despite all the vaccine cocktails that the pharmacy industry is promoting worldwide as THE promising solution to end this misery. Whatever you think about the vaccine, don’t let this pandemic take away your joy of life. Learn to be happy again and laugh more. Remind yourself that every single day is a precious and priceless gift. Appreciate the people around you and take good care of yourself. Distance yourself from toxic people and nonsense conversations. Keep up the good spirit and let us fight these hard times with love, positivity, and most importantly with HOPE. Hope for better and more relaxing days to come…