Refugee Voices
A Look into the Lives of Refugees
Refugees are valuable teachers.
Refugees are better prepared than most of us for the future of work and the challenges of tomorrow – they are already facing them.
REFUGEE VOICES
A Look into the Lives of Refugees
Refugees are valuable teachers. Refugees are better prepared than most of us for the future of work and the challenges of tomorrow – they are already facing them.
- Bring refugee voices to your organization – every Refugee Voices speaker offers lived experience, cultural insight, and meaningful human connection.
- Learn from trained refugee and displaced professionals who are skilled language educators, cultural ambassadors, and storytellers.
- Tailored workshops and language programs – enhance employee engagement, foster global awareness, or provide unique learning experiences for your team or classroom.
- Interactive cultural immersion and storytelling sessions that inspire, educate, and leave a lasting impact.
- Transform your workplace or learning space with authentic, personal, and memorable experiences that connect people across cultures.
Refugee Voices Speakers
Mona
Home Country: Syria
Current Location: Canada
Native Language: Arabic
Topics: Daily Life, Politics/Current Affairs, Art / Cinema / Music
Mona is a 2016 graduate in Fine Arts from Damascus University. The war in Syria forced her to move to Lebanon after completing her university degree. She is now resettled in Canada, where she works as an Arabic tutor, artist, and performer, while also pursuing a degree in linguistics.
Hadiya
Home Country: Syria
Current Location: Netherlands
Native Language: Arabic
Topics: Daily Life, Art / Cinema / Music
Hadiya, in her thirties and originally from Qamishli, Syria, is now living in the Netherlands with her two children after a challenging journey marked by conflict and displacement. Due to the invasion of her town by the Islamic State, Hadiya and her family fled to Erbil, Iraq, where they spent several years in a refugee camp, hoping to resettle in Europe or the Americas. When these plans fell through, her husband decided to make the journey alone to the Netherlands. After a three-month journey, he successfully claimed asylum and filed for family reunification. Hadiya and her children were later able to join him.
Ataa
Home Country: Syria
Current Location: Jordan
Native Language: Arabic
Topics: Daily Life, Art / Cinema / Music
Ataa is in her early thirties and originally comes from Elma, a small town in Damascus, Syria. Back in her home country, she studied English Literature and French. She was directly affected by the conflict in Syria and had to leave her home country in 2013 in order to receive urgent medical care. She came to Mafrak, Jordan, and she is currently in the Zaatari refugee camp with her four children while her husband has returned to Syria. She is passionate about traveling, reading romance novels and science fiction books, and she likes to discuss arts, music, and literature with her students!
Pavel
Home Country: Venezuela
Current Location: Argentina
Native Language: Spanish
Topics: Daily Life, Politics/Current Affairs
Pavel is originally from Valencia, Venezuela, where he studied Modern Languages and Psychology. Due to political conflict and unsafe conditions, he had to leave his degree unfinished and relocate to La Plata, Argentina. Passionate about teaching languages, and sharing his culture, Pavel is a dynamic voice for change in any setting.
Marianela
Home Country: Venezuela
Current Location: Argentina
Native Language: Spanish
Topics: Daily Life, Politics/Current Affairs
Marianela was living in Merida, Venezuela when she decided to move to San Jose, Costa Rica due to conflict and political persecution in her home country. Previously, Marianela taught Spanish and owned an adventure tourism agency. She loves to travel, meet people from different countries, talk and learn about their culture and interests, and is an ecologist and a passionate recycler.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Invite Our Co-Founder, Aline Sara, to Your Event
From a simple idea in 2015 to a global social enterprise, Aline Sara shares how NaTakallam is reimagining humanitarian aid through language, dignity, and the digital economy.
Topics include:
- Social entrepreneurship & impact-driven startups
- Forced migration & sustainable solutions
- The future of work in the digital economy
- Women’s leadership & mission-driven innovation
Aline has spoken at events including TechCrunch, the World Bank, and Falling Walls.
“NaTakallam was born from the belief that refugees aren’t just in need — they have skills the world wants to learn from.”
TESTIMONIALS
Clients
"The panel discussions between different generations of refugees were insightful, and Aziz Hazizi’s storytelling captivated the audience. Despite technical challenges that affected audio quality, his ability to share his journey and answer audience questions was excellent. Enhancing the technical setup and increasing interactivity could further enrich these sessions."
- Samuel Sebastian
Spanish Committee for UNHCR
"From a teacher-preparation perspective, offering sessions on supporting refugee youth in K-12 schools—featuring speakers who experienced displacement before age 18—would be valuable. The session’s personal stories and interaction with the language partner were impactful. Sending questions in advance made the session more engaging. Overall, it was very well-structured and relevant."
- Raquel Saenz
Southwestern University
"I deeply appreciated the personal stories, resilience, and perspectives shared in these sessions. The insights into displacement from different regions and contexts were powerful for students and me alike. However, technical issues and occasional language barriers impacted the experience. With improved technical support, these sessions have the potential to be even more impactful."
- Belén Cuadrado Ortiz
Spanish Committee for UNHCR
Get Started
Whether you’re seeking translation support, training for your team, or a complement to your curriculum, we’re here to help.