These words come from asylum interviews with people who have arrived on Lesbos. Reality, as it turns out, is often far harsher than we can imagine.
The same applies to today’s news about the possible dissolution of USAID. Beyond the catastrophe this would be for countless organizations worldwide, it is also a deeply alarming signal. The drumbeat of dehumanization grows louder for those who do not fit into a privileged framework. It chills me to the bone—even here, under the generous spring sun shining over the island.
You could become cynical, or deeply saddened. Or you could look at the people who, against all odds, are trying to make a difference. The courageous team at Fenix, the many small initiatives in the Netherlands supporting those who fall through every crack, our partners in Uganda, and others around the world.
Now more than ever, it is both good and necessary to recognize and feel that there is a broad movement saying no to these voices, to these ways of treating one another.
And that each of us can do something to stop this tide. No matter how small—it matters. Whether you donate, speak up even when it feels daunting, or do something for another person, even a stranger—it all counts. And it is more necessary than ever.