In Thailand, a simple bowl of Myanmar rice salad carries memories of home, family, and survival. For Flora Aye, a vegan chef from Myanmar, rice is more than food – it is part of daily life and culture. Growing up, her family cooked rice in large batches and never wasted leftovers, turning them into rice salad using whatever ingredients were available. Now living in Bangkok, Flora shares this dish with Thai students, using cooking to pass on Myanmar traditions and values. The rice salad reflects resilience, care, and the importance of making the most of limited resources, while helping keep Myanmar’s cultural identity alive far from home.

In Tahoua, Amina and other returned migrant women are transforming their lives by building a cooperative that creates local opportunities and challenges the need for risky migration.

When a fire in an IDP camp in Iraq destroyed a family's legal identity documents, the International Organization for Migration helped the mother, Lozina, in restoring their civil documentation, so her children could access education and services.

In Bujumbura, Congolese migrant Joyce built a thriving restaurant through social media, creating jobs and uniting communities through shared cuisine.

Nearly half of global migrants are women whose vital care work sustains economies, yet harmful stereotypes continue to fuel discrimination, exclusion, and violence.

Karla’s journey from repeated rejection to leadership at Coca-Cola FEMSA shows how inclusion unlocks talent and opportunity. After Mexico’s pledges at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum, UNHCR’s Programa de Integración Local helped connect refugees with jobs, documentation, and relocation support. Since 2016, more than 50,000 refugees have found employment, supported by over 600 companies. For refugees like Haitian technician Angelet François, work restores dignity, stability, and hope. These experiences prove that hiring refugees is not charity but smart economics, strengthening businesses, communities, and local economies.

Mok, once a jewellery factory worker in Thailand, recalls her longing for home during her three years abroad. In Laos, nearly one in five families depend on remittances from migrant workers like her, who take on tough jobs to support their families. Forced to leave for better income, Mok felt a deep duty to provide for her loved ones. Now, she has transformed her life by cultivating mushrooms at home, earning a steady income while being present for her family. She sells her produce locally and cherishes the moments spent watching her children grow and sharing meals together.

In a small village in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region, fear gripped the community as storm clouds loomed. For years, erratic rains led to devastating floods that destroyed homes and fields, followed by harsh dry seasons and sandstorms that worsened land degradation. However, residents now believe they have broken this destructive cycle through intentional actions. With support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the local non-profit Shaqadoon, the community of Harqabobe has focused on building defenses that work with the water, rather than against it, fostering resilience in the face of climate challenges.

In Abu Shouk camp, North Darfur, Jamila and her four children live under a thin plastic sheet, facing daily struggles for survival. Once, they ran a grocery shop in Zalingei, providing dignity and community. War changed everything; a shell destroyed their home and her husband disappeared without a trace. Fleeing with her children, she endured a harsh journey filled with hunger. Now at the camp, she works in exchange for food, but it’s never enough. Despite the overwhelming loss and uncertainty, Jamila remains determined to keep her children alive. With millions displaced in Sudan, her story reflects the profound struggle for safety and hope.

After a decade apart and years of hardship abroad, sisters Doha and Natija return to Syria to rebuild their lives with the support of community-based services that offer legal, psychosocial, and housing assistance.

Like many others on the Horn of Africa to Yemen route, a 20-year-old Ethiopian woman became a target of traffickers. Months later she found safety at IOM’s Migrant Response Point in Sana’a, where she gave birth. 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have launched a "train-to-hire" program for refugees in the Asia-Pacific region, funded by the Australian Government for an initial 22-month period. This initiative aims to enhance refugee skills and connect them with international job opportunities, addressing labor market gaps and promoting self-reliance. It seeks to strengthen collaboration among UN agencies and facilitate safe migration, leveraging refugees' skills to reduce reliance on irregular routes. Despite significant numbers of skilled refugees, barriers to employment remain, making this targeted training vital for aligning talent with labor needs.

The Darien jungle, located on the border between Panama and Colombia, is a dangerous and humid passage for migrants and asylum seekers heading towards North America. While the natural environment poses challenges, the greatest threats come from traffickers and criminals exploiting vulnerable individuals. Thousands, including children and those with disabilities, undertake the perilous journey, with significant increases in migrant crossings reported in recent years – from 8,594 in 2020 to a record 520,085 in 2023. However, this number dramatically decreased to only 2,831 between January and March 2025. To address the human rights violations migrants face, the UN Human Rights, alongside Panama and Costa Rica's Ombudsman's Offices, developed a technical tool to gather data and respond effectively to these issues.

As the sun rises over the Maidimu internally displaced persons site, women and girls gather in a safe space shelter created for them. Among them is Tsige Mebrthatom, a mother of six who has faced immense hardship but finds strength in these weekly gatherings. Tsige fled her home in Kefta Humera after losing her husband during the conflict in Northern Ethiopia, traveling on foot for five days to reach the Endabaguna camp. Once a thriving merchant in Addis Ababa, her hopes for a fresh start were shattered by the outbreak of conflict in Tigray. Now living in Maidimu, Tsige is one of over 5,000 displaced individuals. Learning traditional crafts has helped Tsige reclaim her identity and serve as a source of strength and inspiration for her children.

Around the world, Ramadan is a time to come together as a family. It represents the warmth of home, sharing a good meal and enjoying a variety of food. But for millions of Syrians still displaced 14 years after the conflict began, this Ramadan comes with the heavy burden of poverty and hunger. Mixed feelings of hope and wariness pervade their war-torn nation as it embarks on its path to peace. Over 7 million people remain internally displaced, most of them women and children. For years, humanitarian aid has been their only lifeline. Yet, dwindling resources make access to even basic needs a daily struggle, let alone the joyful Iftars they remember. This is especially challenging for women-led households.