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Migrant Odyssey – stephen barden — Places & Travel
Migrant Odyssey – stephen barden

This series is specifically aimed at helping to change the current fear-ridden attitude of the wealthy world to migrants, as well as to grant the migrants themselves (be they refugees or economic and climate driven) a voice of self confidence and pride. We’ll be talking to extraordinary people who are transforming themselves and their host countries, with courage and ingenuity.-
If the title of the podcast is “Migrant Odyssey”, its spirit is certainly “Too big to contain”. Your podcast host is Stephen Barden

Copyright: © 2025 Migrant Odyssey

Latest Episodes:

Ruchira Gupta: "Where are all the girls?" Jul 29, 2025

Stephen Barden talks to Ruchira Gupta, lifelong activist against human trafficking - especially the trafficking of women. This extraordinary woman not only founded a global organization to protect and educate sexually trafficked women and their daughters but, through her work with the United Nations, has driven changes in global laws on human trafficking and drawn up rules of behaviour for the peacekeepers themselves.

In this episode we hear how she started on her campaign decades ago when she was covering a story in Nepal and discovered there were no girls in village after village. Her question "Where are all the girls", set her on a path that she's following to this day.

Kejsi Hodo and the "invisible" referendum to change Italy's citizenship laws May 25, 2025

Lex Takkenberg - 30 years in the most scrutinised of all UN agencies Apr 21, 2025

From the frontlines of one of the world's most enduring humanitarian crises comes a story of extraordinary dedication. Dr Lex Takkenberg takes us through his extraordinary four-decade journey working with refugees and displaced persons, including thirty years with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
What begins as an academic interest in international law at the University of Amsterdam transforms into a lifelong commitment when Lex joins UNRWA during the first Intifada. Through his eyes, we witness the evolution of conflict in the region - from the relatively contained stone-throwing confrontations of the late 1980s to the increasingly lethal violence that followed the second Intifada and beyond.
Lex offers rare insights into UNRWA's precarious position between competing stakeholders. Initially established to provide relief while deflecting attention from refugees' right of return, the agency evolved into an essential provider of education, healthcare, and social services while constantly navigating accusations of bias from all sides. His account of developing "robust neutrality frameworks" reveals the extraordinary scrutiny UNRWA faces compared to other UN agencies.

All Good Stories Start with our Grandmothers Mar 27, 2025

Ahmad's story: from sight to insight Mar 02, 2025

Ahmad Jaafil shares his story of extraordinary and persistent willpower, He talks matter of factly about his severe and rare eye disease and the horrendous struggle to try and save his sight- in Lebanon and then the USA. If you want to know, in painful detail, what it's like for a family to do everything and more to heal their young son, this episode will do that for you.

And it's also a story of

- fierce determination and huge will

- of a young man who went from being seen as "hopeless and weak" by his classmates to being named student of the year

- of the power of acceptance of what is, but not of what can be

Help support Waves to Home (www.wavestohome.org) and amplify the stories of all uprooted people around the world.

And, please do tell us what you think and feel about Migrant Odyssey.

We need your support. We love your feedback

One stitch - A World of Meaning Jan 28, 2025

This is the story of Hajar - a young woman with Palestinian and Lebanese parents - who understands that her people are woven together - not just by ideologies or politics or even the yearning for a safe homeland but by their stories. The stories of their humanity, eccentricities, intimacy and tenderness. Stories that are embroidered into every part of their lives.

"Our existence as Palestinians challenges a whole universe that supports the occupation" Sep 09, 2024

Can standing on a rooftop in a refugee camp be the starting point of a journey toward empowerment and change? This episode of "Migrant Odyssey" features Manal, a dedicated social worker and the founder of the Kayani Foundation, that support Palestinian women and girls through the values of family. She takes us through the harrowing history of her family, the struggles of her parents, and the poignant memories of her grandmother, whose stories and a cherished memento profoundly shaped her path.
Beyond personal anecdotes, we confront the harsh realities faced by Palestinian refugees in Lebanese schools. Manal recounts her own experiences of racism and systemic barriers that hinder educational and professional aspirations. The rigid curriculum, internal violence, and flawed educational systems paint a stark picture of the obstacles that students encounter daily. Through Manal's narrative, we see the disparity between the immense potential of these students and the limited opportunities available to them, driving home the pervasive sense of hopelessness that many feel.
Lastly, we explore the complexities of Palestinian identity and the emotional weight of statelessness. Manal shares her passion for outdoor activities and discusses her impactful work in mental health, child protection, and capacity building within refugee camps. The conversation also emphasizes gender equality initiatives and the resistance faced when promoting sensitive issues like feminism. Highlighting the necessity of involving men and boys in this fight, Manal's work underscores a broader commitment to fostering respect and healthy family dynamics, striving for equal opportunities and continuous support for the Palestinian community.

Maqluba: the upside down dish that is life on the West Bank Jun 05, 2024

Life on the West Bank is upside down for Palestinians. They have little of rights on their land that they have lived on for centuries. The towns that they do live in cannot grow because they are being strangled by encroaching Israeli settlements. East Jerusalem, internationally designated as the Palestinian capital - is not. A journey that should take minutes takes hours and hours. The places where the are supposed to be safe - are not.
It is, says today's guest Firas, like Maqluba - the beloved Palestinian upside down dish. Except it isn't. Unlike Maqluba,living on the West Bank is neither tasty nor beloved.
This episode is co-hosted by Zoya (our half Palestinian half Ukrainian guest from episode 9) who brings her compassion, with and experience of, the Palestinian tragedy to a thoughtful discussion that ranges from Firas' personal story to questions of decolonizing minds and managing conflict where laws and governance do not apply. And it ends - as so many of our stories do - with the ties of the heart: those profound emotional bonds that define what it means to truly belong "with" a place and its people.

"Even If what stays of Gaza is rubble. The rubble will be my home" May 22, 2024

This episode is extraordinary not just because Tareq - a young man from Gaza - has an extraordinary story to tell, but because as he tells it , one can hear each stage of his life unfiltered. He is able to express what Tareq the child felt long before his adult self understood the years' long blockade -seige- under which his city lived. And when we hear his story of when he first had to go to Jerusalem, we hear the shock of his treatment - as if it were happening to him today. Tareq more than tells his story, he relives it. And so will you.

Rowan from the West Bank: "I lost my sense of fear - and that's scary." Mar 31, 2024

Imagine navigating the complex layers of survivor's guilt while fostering a beacon of innovation amidst the ricochet of conflict. Join us as we welcome Rowan, a resilient Palestinian businesswoman and engineer from the West Bank, who shares an intimate portrayal of life under occupation. Her vivid narratives reveal the deep cultural and spiritual significance of Ramadan, the ingenuity required to thrive as an entrepreneur in the Middle East, and the unwavering commitment to humanity that defines the Palestinian spirit. The tapestry of her story is woven with threads of hope and the stark realities of living amidst ongoing strife in Gaza.
The echoes of trauma reverberate through generations, shaping lives in ways that often remain hidden. This episode peels back the veil on the psychological impacts of continuous trauma as Rowan and I explore how Palestinians have normalized violence to the point of fearlessness. We delve into the challenges of mental health in conflict zones, sharing personal anecdotes that illustrate the complexity of seeking support in an environment where trauma is part of the everyday fabric of life. Through Rowan's eyes, we grasp the generational transmission of pain and perseverance, and understand the silent burdens carried within families.
Rowan's journey embodies the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial grit that can emerge from the most challenging circumstances. From her early education to launching her startup, Amal, aimed at revolutionizing the construction industry, Rowan's experiences highlight the economic and professional hurdles faced by Palestinians. The candid recount of her startup's evolution, from a simple Google Forms setup to a service impacting thousands, ultimately reflects the broader landscape of opportunity and growth in a region hungry for change. Her narrative not only captivates but also inspires, shining a light on the indomitable human spirit that persists in the wake of adversity.

We're not the cause of the wars that we flee. So why punish us as if we are? Mar 19, 2024

Stellah Nikuze is the daughter of Rwanda genocide survivors. Born and brought up in the Kyaka 11 refugee camps in Uganda, she has emerged as a fierce advocate of refugees and the voiceless.
Educated in classrooms with more than 100 children per teacher, she co-founded the Hodari Foundation which focuses on feeding, skilling and healing traumatised children in Uganda.. Now at university in Canada, Stellah turned that fierceness into working with the UN and other world bodies to fight for the rights of refugees wherever they are .
Refugees, she reminds us, are punished twice: first by the warring factions that drive them away from their homes. And then by the host countries who will not let them work and integrate in their new societies.

Sofia's odyssey: From Ukraine to Berlin via London and Israel Feb 14, 2024

This is the story of Sofia - a Ukrainian refugee now living in Berlin. After living in Israel , she and her Israel husband went back to Ukraine a few months before the war with Russia in 2022, to be with her mother and grandmother.All too quickly she found her life turned upside down.
This holder of a masters degree in international economics now works as a cleaner in Berlin and tells her story to Stephen Barden, with pain, with humour and fearsome grit.

The Survival Centre: The Berlin Trauma Centre helping refugees survive their survival. Jan 14, 2024

Refugees seek refuge and shelter. Safety from being brutalised, from the trauma of witnessing and experiencing acts of terror and horror. But also a haven where they can retrieve their sense of humanity and self worth, without being spat on for their religion, skin colour or "foreign" accent in their new homes.
Our guest today is Susanne Höhne, trauma therapist and psychologist specialising in treating women refugees. She tells Stephen Barden that trauma work is rarely successful unless the patient is now in a safe place. And that is why her workplace - the wonderful Zentrum Überleben (the Survival Centre) in Berlin Germany - tries to make sure that all its patients find true refuge and integration in their new countries, at work, at home and in society.
The stories she tells are not just stories of horror but of healing and determination as well. They also reflect the matter-of-fact strength of Susanne herself, who has spent nearly two decades making sure her clients survive their survival and then to thrive in it.
If you'd like to support, or be helped by, the center please go to their site, which is both in English and German. The address is https://www.ueberleben.org/en/home-en/
Zentrum ÜBERLEBEN
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 30 39 06 -0
Fax: +49 (0) 30 30 61 43 71

E-Mail: mail@ueberleben.org

Or take a look at similar organizations in your country, your city or your town and see where you can help or be helped.

Zoya: Palestinian warrior for peace and kindness Dec 03, 2023

This is the story of Zoya, born into a world of upheaval, chaos, and strife and raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon - as was her father and grandfather. Equally important, this is also the story of a young woman's journey to transform her harsh reality into a journey of resilience, compassion, and leadership
Our conversation takes us from one place of conflict - Lebanon - to another in Ukraine, where she and her family sought refuge before the war there drove them to seek yet another sanctuary. With extraordinary calmness and lack of self pity, Zoya tells us of the violence that has dominated so much of her life; of her people who have been without a home for 75 years, and of her fears that the people of Gaza are in the middle of a new Nakba, that drove 800,000 Palestinians from their homes and country a quarter of a century ago.
The name Zoya, in Arabic, means "loving, caring and alive to the world". And that is exactly what shines through this extraordinary young woman who, somehow, has found her voice in kindness, compassion, deep inner reflection - and a clear moral compass.
So, this conversation moves through the ongoing trauma, to Zoya's search for transformation: in herself, her people and for the rest of us.

Running with Blood Oct 26, 2023

This is the story of Janvier Hafasha – originally from the Rutshuru zone of north Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and now living in the Kyaka refugee settlement in Uganda. Janvier is one of nearly 400,000 people (according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) who have been terrorized out of Rutshuru, most of them fleeing to Uganda.

Janvier is much more than a refugee. He is an extraordinary leader who, despite suffering almost unimaginable personal tragedies, has gone on to co-found an organization that nurtures and develops children in the Kyaka refugee camp– ensuring that they are not only fed but that they heal and grow stronger by learning to share their stories and by protecting those who have disabilities and are even more vulnerable than they are.

Decoding the Narrative: Peter Ruhenstroth Bauer on the Global Refugee Crisis and Germany's Response Oct 03, 2023

Ready to have your perspective shaken and stirred? Join me, Stephen Barden, as I sit down with Peter Ruhenstroth Bauer, the Head of the UN's Refugee organization in Germany. I hope this episode will help provide a global perspective of the massive migration of people in the world. I hope, too, it will break down those assumptions so many of us in the richer countries hold.
Most refugees just want to live the good life in your country?
Not true:they just want to be home, in peace.
Most refugees into Europe come from Africa?
Think again: a disproportionate number hail from just three countries - Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
We switch gears to discuss the plight of refugees in Germany and the intricacies of the EU's policies. We explore the often fraught process of refugee resettlement, shedding light on the rights and privileges granted to refugees in Germany. We also consider the power of education in reshaping the narrative around refugees. As we wrap up the conversation, we look at the potential of platforms like our Migrant Odyssey podcast series to foster understanding and empathy around forced migration. Listen in, and engage in the conversation.

This is what Resilience looks like: Okello Joseph's Life from Refugee to Filmmaker Sep 13, 2023

Prepare yourself for a gripping narrative that will take you from the conflict-stricken areas of South Sudan to the mud-walled houses of Kakuma refugee camp, and ultimately to the heart of Germany. Our guest, Okello Joseph, shares his riveting journey of survival, struggle, and success in today's episode. His story is a testament to human resilience and the fierce belief of his value as a human being and film maker.
Imagine leaving everything you know behind at the age of three. Not just being torn from your village and country but being sent away by your mother and not knowing your real name for years. Imagine that when you meet your mother again after many years, her only message to you is : "when I die, you will live like a dog". .
It takes unrelenting determination to drive through those obstacles to survive let alone thrive. Yet Okello Joseph, not only found the strength to endure but to ensure his creativity did so as well.
This is a true story of resilience that aspiring leaders in the wealthier countries could do well to emulate.

Mohammed Salim's Journey: Grit and Hope in the World's Largest Refugee Camp Aug 03, 2023

Journey with us as we peel back the layers of life in the world's largest refugee camp - Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, through the lens of one of its residents. Mohammed Selim Khan, a Rohingya refugee himself, unravels the life he has known since 1992, dealing with the loss of his parents and facing the daily struggle to survive. Not only does he wear the hats of a fire safety instructor and journalist in the camp, but Mohammed's captivating photos have earned him recognition in the Rohingya Photo Competition.
This episode is a raw, unfiltered glimpse into a world far-removed from the usual, brought to life by the poignant storytelling and visual imagery of our guest. Get to know Mohammed as he shares the grit, resilience, and hope of the camp's inhabitants, captured through his photography. From safety workshops to prevent child drownings to powerful black and white images that speak a thousand words, Mohammed's narrative offers a profound perspective on the human spirit's tenacity in the face of adversity. Listen in and be moved by his compelling tale of survival, resilience, and hope in the world's largest refugee camp.

Deng Dak Malual: unbounded leader Jul 12, 2023

This is Deng Dak Malual: Not yet 30 years old, 17 years in Africa's largest refugee camp, Kakuma; a fugitive from South Sudan.
And so much more.
Deng is a leading member of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers. A relentless advocate and negotiator for his community. A team leader in a global social enterprise, reskilling and employing refugees as high effective digital specialists.
In the spirit of this series, too big to contain.

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