How Do Refugees Give Back? Meet Mustafa

Mustafa is a former refugee from Somalia who was resettled in 2014 to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

By 2017, Mustafa and his family had adapted to their lives in America when conversations about the refugee issue became extremely polarized. To counter the rise of negative rhetoric and challenge stereotypes about refugees, Mustafa decided to write an op-ed in a local paper. Soon after, he received harassing messages from a man named Mark.

Instead of arguing with Mark, Mustafa invited him for coffee. The two quickly found common ground and became friends, which inspired Mustafa to open Bridge – a social enterprise that connects local communities with refugees through dinner party experiences.

We shared Mustafa’s inspiring story with USA for UNHCR audiences to highlight the lasting contributions that refugees bring to their communities when they are given opportunities to thrive. The story was featured in Forbes Magazine and was very successful on the website and social media channels.