All You Can Carry

Few countries have a more complicated recent history than that of Iraq. From the war with Iran that lasted most of the 1980s, to the first gulf war in the early nineties, and then the 2003 US invasion that led to regime change and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, our guest today has lived his life in the constant shadow of war. Ahmed Abdulmajeed arrived in the United States from Iraq in 2012, where he was working as a doctor in Baghdad. After reporting corruption in the hospital where he worked, he was subject to ongoing death threats that forced him to flee the country for Jordan and apply for refugee status. Resettled in the United States, where he was unable to practice medicine or to use his training as a cardiovascular surgeon, he built a new life and a new career.Learn more about Amaanah Refugee Services and our mission at https://amaanahservices.orgPodcast produced by Ozeal Media

On this episode, Sharifah Shakira talks about her experience as a Rohingya refugee, and the struggle of the Rohingya people in the face of repression and violence in Myanmar. *Warning: This episode contains references to sexual violence and family separation, and is not suitable for all audiences.*Find out more about Sharifah's organization at https://www.rohingyawomen.comLearn more about Amaanah Refugee Services and our mission at https://amaanahservices.orgPodcast produced by Ozeal Media

This month, Christina Degbo and Fabiola Martinez join the podcast to discuss the challenges faced by refugee students in Houston Public Schools, and how the Amaanah Teach360 program works to make things better. Across our school districts, committed teachers and school administrators are working to accommodate the refugee population. It's a lot to ask, given the challenges presented but language, culture and the traumatic experiences they have had. 

This month Dr Naifa Busaidy talks to Kimberly Meyer, author of ‘Accidental Sisters', her new book about the experiences of five refugee women who met on the Amaanah Transformed program. Support Amaanah at amaanahservices.orgApply for scholarships at amaanahservices.org/news/scholarship/ 

Since 2022, half a million people have been killed or injured as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.On the first episode of the Amaanah podcast, Liza Yakubovska joins us to talk about the war, her experiences leaving her home, and her life in Houston as a refugee. This episode is hosted by Richard Spragg from Amaanah Refugee Services. Find out more at amaanahservices.org. 

"Welcome to 'All You Can Carry', a monthly podcast that explores stories of adversity, hardship and hope from within the global refugee community.Each episode, we'll hear from refugees past and present about their journeys, the challenges they've faced, and their hopes for the future. Join us as we hear tales of courage, compassion, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. You'll meet the staff and volunteers of the organizations that work with refugees day to day, the lawmakers involved in setting policy, and local community leaders at the forefront of refugee support. Most importantly, you'll hear from current and former refugees themselves about their journeys, their experiences and how everything they've been through  has shaped who they are, and how they see the world.