Hidden Voices

Today we hear about the ups and downs of growing up, courtesy of Ms. S.

A Karen man wrestles with the question: Can we live happily with people who have broken our hearts?

A Karen family devastated by war prays for a miracle.

Growing up is hard for everyone, but it gets really complicated when you're also dealing with losing your mother and being deported.

Due to the ruthless tactics of the Burmese army, many Karen children were forced to survive as homeless orphans. Today we hear about one orphan's journey to survival.

Today we hear a story of a mom and daughter's attempts to escape an abusive husband and father.

Building a house with your own hands would be hard for anyone. Now imagine you are a refugee with no materials. Sound hard? Today we hear a story of a refugee building a house for his family.

A father reminds his daughter that "everyone has a struggle in their life, and we should never forget those struggles because they are memories that are important to us."

On average, refugees spend 17 years waiting in camps before they are resettled. Today we hear a story about one man's attempts to escape this waiting game.

How do you escape the Burmese police when they've caught you trespassing? Just ask Uncle Bad Monkey (and his mother).

Welcome to Season 2 of the Hidden Voices podcast! We are a podcast made by high school EL students dedicated to telling good stories about real people. We will be releasing a new story every day for the next two weeks, so make sure to subscribe!

In this final episode of Season 1, we learn about the Secret War and how a Hmong family deals with the aftermath. Keep your eyes peeled for Hidden Voices: Season 2, coming this winter!

Everyone on earth has their strengths and weaknesses, their positive and negative qualities. But every once in a blue moon you encounter someone who stands high above the rest, someone so incredible that you can't help but thank them for being in your life. We hear today about one such person.

When you are both a refugee and a parent, you are constantly faced with an onslaught of decisions. Which decisions will give your family the best life? How can you know for sure?

A mother learns to embrace a brand new life after the tragic loss of her first husband.

Life is hard when your family is spread out, you live with a drug dealer who makes you cook for him, and you get bullied at school every day. We hear the story of a brother stuck in a hard life.

No matter your background or upbringing, deciding what to do with your life is a difficult thing to do. We hear of a sister's experience in making this important decision.

Sometimes the most random acquaintances can end up being your most loyal friends. This is the story of a powerful friendship between a Chinese father and a Ukrainian man.

A mom has to decide whether to leave and go to the U.S. or stay in El Salvador. The twist: she has only 2 days to make her decision.

Imagine living in a place where you have no money, but it is illegal to work. We hear about a Karen father's life in a Thai refugee camp.

Becoming a doctor is a notoriously difficult, competitive, and expensive endeavor for anyone to undertake. Try doing it as an impoverished Latina girl with 9 siblings.

Few people enjoy leaving the comforts of home to start over in a strange new land. But when your family's lives are in danger, you have to do what you have to do.

In the 1980s and 90s, Nepali people living in Bhutan suddenly found themselves without a home - they were wanted neither in Bhutan nor in Nepal. We learn here of a Nepali family struggling to learn what it means to belong.

How do you support your family while living in a refugee camp with no jobs? We hear of a father who did just that.

Life is short and fragile. You never know when your life could be completely changed, in an instant.

What does it take to change a parent's mind about a boyfriend? We hear about a mom who tried just about everything.

The sister of a KNU military leader flees from the Burmese Army...while pregnant.

What if you had to decide between staying in the country you love and moving to strange, cold new place with your family? We hear from a Nepali man about this difficult choice.

This story chronicles the difficulties of being a single mother in Southeast Asia.