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Writer's pictureREACH

In Chicago, Refugee Youth Find Their Place Through Adventure and Nature

By Madeleine Walker, UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, 21 October 2024 - “It just helped my soul heal; it made me feel at home even though I’m not necessarily at home… It gave me a place to belong,” said Muntadher, an 18-year-old resettled refugee from Iraq.


He was referring to REACH, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, that helps refugee youth navigate their new lives by offering a unique combination of STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) and outdoor activities like whitewater rafting and mountain biking.

Muntadher fled Iraq at a young age, but his memories remain vivid. "It was a time of war, a lot of destruction and chaos where I lived," he recalled. "The only hope we had was to leave."


The transition to a new culture and unfamiliar surroundings in the United States was difficult, but REACH provided the support he needed, underscoring the profound impact that integration programs like REACH have on newly resettled refugees. Such initiatives facilitate essential connections and leadership development, empowering newcomers to find community and a sense of belonging in their new environments.






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