Migrant Odyssey

Time and distance never quite heal the pain of war and disruption. And neither do they soothe the longing to return.
Souad has been away from her beloved Lebanon for 20 years but both its joys and traumas are ever present. In this third episode in the mini series on Lebanon, she talks, - with  both bluntness and much humour - about her homeland. 
Here's the link to a map of Beirut  
https://www.worldmap1.com/map/beirut-map

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 You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors.
Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets.
That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard.
If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.

Some people have poetry in their voice - whether they know it or not. Their words, and the  silence in-between, stop you in your tracks.  Which is what fine poetry does. 
Areej  has that gift. Whether she talks about teaching children, or coming home to her beloved city or her faith, there is always that moment when you have to pause and look at your world anew.
This is the second episode in this mini series on extraordinary ordinary people in Lebanon today.   

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
 You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors.
Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets.
That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard.
If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.

Lebanon Lives: the first of a mini series   featuring extraordinary, ordinary people in Lebanon - trying to live their lives while their towns, villages and cities are bombed around them. 
As host Stephen Barden says, " These people are us." or as Joan Baez put it, in her song, "There but for fortune - go you or I". 
Stephen's first guest in this series is Mona - half Ukrainian, half Palestinian, lover of extreme sports and in love with a profession she cannot pursue.

And here's the Instagram link to Mona's Extreme Sports team:
https://www.instagram.com/wolves.teamm?igsh=NjMwZTRicjJieDR3

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
 You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors.
Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets.
That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard.
If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.

Gaza Champions is a global community that may be solving two huge problems that plague traditional charities: how to make sure support stays long after the media circus has moved on. And how to get past donor fatigue. 
Stephen Barden talks to co-founders Anam Raheem and Matt Davis about how they helped put volunteers from across the world in touch with individual families in Gaza: a network of pen pals - or zoom pals. And the impact that has had - not just on the families in Gaza - but on the volunteers. 
Links referred to in episode:
Gaza Champions website: https://www.championgaza.xyz/
Gaza Champions instagram:https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMyhMaDt-v/
Mahmood fund-raising page:https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/gaza-champions
Anam Raheem's substack: https://substack.com/@anamraheem?r=2pc66t&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
Anam's short story: https://www.wasafiri.org/content/tessellation-by-anam-raheem/

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
 You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors.
Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets.
That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard.
If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.

While the media focus on punishing - or protecting - the powerful men who consorted with Jeffrey Epstein, it has completely neglected to ask:  how can any man  traffic and exploit women and children in plain sight? And why is it that, despite the Epstein revelations, organizations combating trafficking and  protecting survivors  face more not less governmental delays and significant cuts in funding? 
In this episode Stephen Barden talks to Taina Bien Aimé, who has devoted herself to this cause for over three decades,  and heads an organization that punches way above it weight. 
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
 You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors.
Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets.
That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard.
If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.