About Refugees, By Refugees

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story

“My dream is for my country, that I would like my country to be free,” says Katay

on Atayi (62). Katayon was a high school teacher in Iran, but after the revolution she was forbidden from teaching. Working instead as a seamstress, she faced political and religious persecution, and was later imprisoned, including physical abuse. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a seamstress at Dior. Leaving her country has not been easy, and when she first arrived in Europe she struggled with her mental health. “I think every person who leaves their country [is] sad. It’s not nice,” she explains. Today, her work gives her strength: “I rise very quickly for my job,” she says, “because really, they gave me all the things I don’t have in my life. Give me stability, give me security and social status.” Thinking about ongoing challenges is still hard, however: “I hear about my country and I am sad because every day someone killed in my country.” She dreams of freedom for everyone living in Iran. Full Story