Lesson 4: Achieving the "Good Life"
In this lesson, you will:
Identify why the traditional humanitarian approach to refugee aid work has less than ideal outcomes for refugees
Define what achieving the “good life” looks like for refugees
Explain how much of Lifting Hands International’s work is aimed at helping refugees achieve the “good life”
Often, the humanitarian approach to refugee work focuses on day-to-day survival. This means that humanitarian aid organizations will often focus on offering an immediate lifeline to those who have had to flee war, natural disaster, famine or drought, or persecution. Lifting Hands International does participate in this kind of work. We’ve responded swiftly to crises such as the earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in 2023 and the increasingly dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip by sourcing and distributing much needed food, water, clothing, hygiene supplies and medicine to those who need it.
Yet, we are also aware that many refugees and displaced people may exist in the limbo phase of the refugee journey for years. And, those who resettle struggle with assimilation, integration, and pursuing livelihoods. Because of the length of time refugees may find themselves in limbo, we need to also focus on solutions that allow refugees to achieve “the good life” both while they are living in temporary situations such as refugee camps and if and when they are permanently resettled in a new country.
What is the good life and how can we help refugees achieve it? LHI wanted to know, so we teamed up with some London-based researchers to survey refugees who participate in programs at the LHI Community Center in Serres, Greece.
This is what they told us:
The good life means stability and dignity. In the words of one woman, the good life includes “a place for my family, my children go to a school, and my husband and I to have a job.“
The good life means connection. One man shared his hopes for reconnecting with the community he lost when he became a refugee, saying: ““There is a small community in northwest Germany where all the Yazidis live. My friends and family members live there. That’s why I am enduring life in Serres, so I can eventually reach Germany and reunite with the people I love. I miss my friends.”
The good life means safety and peace of mind. One woman shared that the good life would be possible when “when we have nothing to worry about, no problems facing our daily life, and have a peaceful life.”
How does LHI help refugees achieve the good life? We invite you to watch these videos about some of our programs. As you watch, consider how each program might promote (1) dignity and stability, (2) connection, and (3) safety and peace of mind. You can use the worksheet below to organize your thoughts. The worksheet is also included in the course reflection journal document.
Click here to download a PDF of this worksheet. It is also included in the course reflection journal.