I backpacked through South East Asia and was impacted by the stories I heard about the UXO bombings, the Vietnam War, and the Cambodian genocide.
Upon returning home, I was inspired to raise awareness about such destructive events that happen around the world. These events live long past their time through the worldwide displacement of people from their homes. I founded Break the Silence with the intention to use photographs, interviews, and stories to raise awareness about these issues, give refugees a voice, and highlight the wonderful work that is being done to support them.
500 million people have become displaced from their homes. Each number has a person with a story to tell. That is something you cannot quantify.
Henna Pithia, USC Law Student, United Nations Refugee Agency
"I've been working with refugee populations for the past three years now, and they are the most courageous people I have ever met. How they manage to be so warm and grateful in the midst of utter chaos, I will never understand. Their perseverance and determination inspires me every day."
https://soundcloud.com/breakthesilence_uci/henna-pithia
Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, co-founder of The Tiyya Foundation
"I would like people to know that refugees are resilient. They (we) are not an abstract statistic ... Each person I've met is precious and unique. I believe it takes a lot dignity and pride to overcome obstacles of displacement."
Lili Do, Fresh START tutor, Break the Silence Social Media Chair
"My parents and their families came here as refugees after the Vietnam War and they left everything they knew behind. It was hard for them to assimilate into society, but with help they were able to go back to school, graduate, and get jobs. There are still families like this today, not only here but all over the world, that need our help. That's why this campaign is important in spreading awareness and letting people know what's happening."
Khen Rinpoche, Tibetan Monk
When Khen Rinpoche was fifteen years old, he walked with his father from India to Tibet to enter the renowned Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. The 800-mile trek took them over two months to complete.
His dream was to receive the Geshe degree in Buddhist philosophy, roughly equivalent to a Ph.D. This dream was deferred for him when the Chinese government intensified their policy of cultural genocide on occupied Tibet in 1959. The daily public humiliation and torture of monks by Chinese officials and the mass destruction of the monasteries and colleges made it impossible to continue the pursuit of this degree there.
He fled to his homeland and continued his studies. An opportunity to fulfill his dream opened up for him when he was offered the chance to teach at the first Tibetan Buddhist learning center in America. Rinpoche went on to finally receive his geshe!
His passion for education led him to return to his homeland where he founded his very own school that offered a well rounded education to the children in his village.
He has since been travelling all over the world to spread ideas about peace, forgiveness, compassion, and happiness.
Here is a quote from our interview:
"Would you cover the world with leather?
No you wouldn't. First, you do not have that much leather. Second, you do not have the time.
This is the same with changing the entire world.
If you change yourself first, then your world will start to change. But, it begins with you.
Use the leather instead to make nice shoes. Then, walk all over the world with them."
His dream was to receive the Geshe degree in Buddhist philosophy, roughly equivalent to a Ph.D. This dream was deferred for him when the Chinese government intensified their policy of cultural genocide on occupied Tibet in 1959. The daily public humiliation and torture of monks by Chinese officials and the mass destruction of the monasteries and colleges made it impossible to continue the pursuit of this degree there.
He fled to his homeland and continued his studies. An opportunity to fulfill his dream opened up for him when he was offered the chance to teach at the first Tibetan Buddhist learning center in America. Rinpoche went on to finally receive his geshe!
His passion for education led him to return to his homeland where he founded his very own school that offered a well rounded education to the children in his village.
He has since been travelling all over the world to spread ideas about peace, forgiveness, compassion, and happiness.
Here is a quote from our interview:
"Would you cover the world with leather?
No you wouldn't. First, you do not have that much leather. Second, you do not have the time.
This is the same with changing the entire world.
If you change yourself first, then your world will start to change. But, it begins with you.
Use the leather instead to make nice shoes. Then, walk all over the world with them."
Pauline Lubens, War and Public Health Lecturer and Public Health doctoral student whose 35 year photojournalism career included spending time covering the personal toll of war
"My interest in refugees primarily comes from having spent time in these war zones and seeing what people go through. That was one of the things that I liked about journalism because I could see these issues up close and personal and try to walk in other people's shoes."
https://soundcloud.com/breakthesilence_uci/pauline-luben
This is me, Stella Liu
I am so grateful that I get the chance to talk to so many resilient people. I found that I learned the most outside the classroom when I opened myself up to listen wholeheartedly to others and to experience life fully.
So I will leave you with this quote: "Stories are bridges from one mind to another."
Go out and learn. Go out and listen.