As 2025 comes to a close, we look back on a year of continuity, learning, and steady progress. At Everyday Refugees Foundation, our work focused on long-term, people-centered support for refugees, internally displaced people, and local communities through education, storytelling, and direct engagement. With the continued trust of our supporters, 2025 allowed us to strengthen long-term projects, expand educational initiatives, and carry stories across borders.

The year began with the Young People Program in Kyiv, where aspiring photographers from Ukraine’s Iron Squad gathered amid the ongoing war for a masterclass led by our Chairman, Muhammed Muheisen. He guided them through the art and ethics of photography, helping participants see the world through a different lens and explore how images can tell personal narratives. Earlier in January, a photo competition invited the young photographers to capture moments that mattered to them, and the results were announced during the masterclass. The experience brought learning, expression, and encouragement, highlighting the power of photography to tell their own stories. /photography-masterclass-in-kyiv

In February, the Young People Program continued in Dubai, where our Chairman, Muhammed Muheisen, gave a masterclass to visually impaired young people from different backgrounds. The masterclass focused on storytelling and self-expression, inviting participants to reflect on their own perspectives and experiences. Through dialogue and shared learning, the program offered encouragement and highlighted how photography and storytelling can support confidence and personal voice. /world-unseen

In March, our Chairman Muhammed Muheisen spoke during 25 Years of UNICEF Photo of the Year – An Evening for Hope in Berlin, Germany. He reflected on the long-term impact of photography and shared the story behind Zahra, the portrait that received the 2017 UNICEF Photo of the Year award. The evening served as a reminder of how a single image can continue to carry meaning over time. 25 Years of Unicef Photo of the Year

In April, we launched Little Smiles to support Syrian refugee children living in tented settlements in Jordan. The children took part in activities that created space for play, interaction, and expression within their daily reality of displacement. Alongside these activities, the children received outfits and essential items, offering both practical support and a sense of care and recognition. Little Smiles focused on bringing moments of normalcy and connection, reinforcing the importance of presence, attention, and continuity for children growing up in unstable circumstances. /little-smiles

In April, our chairman, Muhammed Muheisen, took the stage at the National Geographic Summit in Amsterdam, sharing stories that reflect the foundation’s approach to photography and responsibility. Being part of this global conversation helped extend the reach of the voices we work with and reinforced the role of visual storytelling in building understanding. https://muhammedmuheisen.com/national-geographic-summit-2025

On World Refugee Day, we shared progress from one of our long-standing commitments: Encourage School in Pakistan. The school moved into a permanent building on the outskirts of Islamabad, bringing greater stability and continuity to Afghan refugee and internally displaced Pakistani children. The improved learning environment strengthened attendance, engagement, and learning throughout the school year. Encourage School has been part of the Everyday Refugees Foundation for many years, and the developments in 2025 reaffirmed our long-term commitment to education. /world-refugee-day-2025

In November, Carrying Voices reached new audiences in Istanbul with The Rest of the Story photo exhibition by Muhammed Muheisen. The exhibition was opened by the Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş. Alongside the exhibition, Muhammed Muheisen gave a talk to an engaged audience, continuing to share our foundation’s mission and raise awareness through photography. /carrying-stories-across-borders

Also in November, Fairytales from Home brought books in children’s own languages to more than 200 Ukrainian children and their families across four shelters in the Netherlands. As reading corners opened, children found familiar stories that offered comfort, connection, and a sense of identity far from home. The project strengthened a feeling of continuity in daily life and reminded young readers that their stories — and their languages — matter. /fairytales-from-home-netherlands

We closed the year in December with Joy That Empowers, our project in Jordan supporting Syrian refugee children and their families living in tented settlements on the outskirts of Mafraq through education and play. The children received school bags, learning materials, and toys, creating moments of joy while supporting their everyday lives. /joy-that-empowers

Alongside our projects, we continued to share our work internationally through media, talks, workshops, interviews, and exhibitions, including the Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah. Muhammed Muheisen’s photographs were featured in 25 Years of UNICEF Photo of the Year across Germany, World Unseen in multiple cities, and during the National Geographic Summit in Amsterdam. Our work continued to reach global audiences through National Geographic platforms and social media.

Throughout the year, we were closely involved with the Courage of a Nation photo exhibit. After opening in Kyiv in late 2024, the exhibition continued until May 2025. Alongside this, we supported the digitization of the museum’s collection, where the exhibition was hosted. In June, Courage of a Nation opened in a gallery in Odesa. It was also transformed that month into a travelling art-train exhibition that toured Ukraine throughout the year — the first of its kind worldwide — with plans to continue in 2026 and expand to other European countries. The exhibition opened at the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago in July, followed by the renovation of a downtown gallery space where it will remain on view until June 2026.

A moment of childhood for Syrian refugee children in Jordan

In a tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of the Jordanian city of Mafraq, Syrian refugee families continue to rebuild their lives with limited resources and little space for childhood. Through our latest project, Joy that Empowers, the Everyday Refugees Foundation visited the community to support more than 100 children aged 2 to 10.

We distributed hundreds of school bags, educational materials and toys — gifts that carry real value for children with limited access to learning or play. As we arrived, the children gathered quickly, watching closely and waiting with anticipation. Balloons, sweets and playful moments added to the atmosphere, turning an ordinary afternoon into something lively and memorable. Each child received a school bag and a toy of their own, sparking excitement and a true sense of celebration throughout the settlement.

Parents gathered outside the tents, smiling as they watched their children wearing their new school bags and playing with their new toys. Laughter filled the air — a sound that softens the hardships of everyday life.

Among the parents was Syrian refugee Faizeh Abdulkareem, a 36-year-old mother who fled Deir ez-Zor in 2014 and has lived in this settlement ever since. She told us with pride, “These bags will encourage my children to study and go to school prepared.”

Nearby sat Fouad Aldodi, a 30-year-old father from the Syrian city of Al-Hasakah who is visually disabled. Surrounded by his daughters, Ayleen and Hadeel, he smiled as they played with their dolls:“Thank you for bringing joy to us parents and to our children. Living here makes you forget these precious moments.”

Lawrence, 11 years old, was just a baby when his parents fled Syria. The moment he received his school bag, educational materials and a football, he ran off to play — filling the ground with energy.

Aseel, a 12-year-old girl from Syria, shared her happiness about finally having a real school bag rather than a plastic one she used to carry to class.

After receiving their items, many children rushed home to place their school bags safely in their tents — then immediately returned outside to play with their new toys, filling the settlement with joy long after we left.

Joy plays an essential role in a child’s well-being. Positive experiences help reduce stress, encourage curiosity and strengthen emotional resilience. For children living in prolonged uncertainty, moments of play can restore balance and offer a glimpse of normality often missing in daily life. It is not about the gifts — it is about making space for a healthy childhood to exist, even in challenging circumstances.

For years, the Everyday Refugees Foundation has supported this same community through a series of practical initiatives responding to their evolving needs. Little Smiles brought early learning materials; Warm and Healthy and Safe and Healthy provided winter clothing, hygiene essentials and medical support; Beat the Cold helped families endure freezing temperatures; and Cooler Summer offered relief during extreme heat. With each project, our relationship with the families has deepened, and our understanding of their daily challenges has grown.

Joy that Empowers reflects our continued commitment to meaningful support. By creating opportunities for play and learning, we help empower displaced children and their families — reminding them that their well-being matters, and that joy has a role even here, even now.

If you wish to get involved and support, donate here: /help

If you wish to get involved and support, donate here: /help

Today marked a special milestone at our Encourage School on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. For 161 Afghan refugee and internally displaced Pakistani girls and boys, it was more than just the end of a school year — it was a celebration of learning and achievement.

Encourage School, by Everyday Refugees Foundation, provides education to children who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or displacement. Many of these students face daily challenges, from limited resources to uncertainty about the future. Yet, they attend school eager to learn and grow.

Graduation day was a moment to recognize their hard work. Smiles, laughter, and applause filled the day as students received trophies, marking the knowledge and skills they’ve gained. It was a reminder that education is not just about lessons in a classroom — it is about dignity, community, and opportunity.

Through Encourage School, we continue to show that even in difficult circumstances, education can open doors, create hope, and support children in building a better future. Today, these children were not only students — they were achievers, ready to take the next step in their journey.

If you wish to get involved and support Encourage School, donate here: /help

Everyday Refugees Foundation continues its journey of spreading awareness — one of the pillars on which it stands. Our founder, Muhammed Muheisen, once again carried stories across borders, ensuring that voices often unheard are brought to the forefront.

In September, Muhammed joined DOK 25 in Fredrikstad, Norway, one of Scandinavia’s leading festivals for documentary photography. DOK FESTIVALEN gathered photographers, journalists, and the public to explore the role of visual storytelling in today’s world. Muhammed delivered a keynote speech, ‘My Journey’, drawing on his two decades of documenting the lives of refugees and displaced communities and his own journey. He also conducted portfolio reviews, giving emerging photographers a chance to receive feedback and guidance.

Soon after, he traveled to Siena, Italy, for the Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) — one of the most prestigious global photography competitions and festivals.

As part of the festival, Muhammed Muheisen unveiled his legacy exhibition Life & War at Centro Culturale “La Tinaia” in Sovicille. Running until November 23, the exhibition brings together over two decades of work, portraying children and families living in the shadow of conflict. Beyond documenting hardship, the photographs highlight resilience, courage, and moments of hope.

Muheisen also took the stage at Teatro dei Rinnovati for a keynote talk, My Journey, reminding the audience that behind the word refugees are people forced to leave their homes and hopes, their families and memories behind in search for a new, safe home. “I don’t just pass by and take pictures,” he shared. “I spend time, I invest, I get to know the people that I photograph, and I aim to make a difference — big or small, at least we start somewhere.”

On September 27, during the festival’s award ceremony, Muheisen served as a jury member and guest of honor. His presence highlighted his dedication to powerful visual storytelling and photography as a force for good.

On 8 November “The Rest of the Story” opened in Istanbul, Türkiye, with Her Excellency Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services, and His Excellency Davut Gül, Governor of Istanbul, in attendance. Hosted at the Rami Library and organized by WEFA International Humanitarian Relief Organization, the exhibition features photographs by Muhammed Muheisen who traveled to Istanbul for this special event.

The exhibition tells the stories of people affected by conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises, capturing moments of courage, hope, and resilience. On 9 November, Muhammed Muheisen shared his personal journey, offering insight into the stories behind his images. Open until 15 November 2025, “The Rest of the Story” invites visitors to experience these powerful narratives, connecting us to lives beyond the headlines and reminding us of our shared humanity.

Through these international platforms, Everyday Refugees Foundation continues to raise awareness, foster empathy, and bring human stories to the forefront.

Awareness is the first step toward change.

On World Refugee Day, we honor the courage, strength, and resilience of millions of refugees around the world who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and dignity.

Refugees are not just numbers; they are individuals with hopes and dreams, talents, and aspirations. They are doctors, teachers, artists, students, parents, and children who long for a future in which they can live without fear and contribute to the world.

Let this day—and every day—remind us of our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to stand with refugees. By offering compassion, understanding, and action, we can transform their journeys of survival into stories of hope and triumph.

A key initiative of the Foundation is Encourage School, located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Since 2020, Encourage School has provided Afghan refugee girls and boys with a safe place to learn and grow.

Encourage School serves now more than 180 girls and boys, offering them education tailored to their experiences and needs. Four women teachers and two male teachers from the community lead classes where children receive not only lessons in reading and writing but also emotional support and a chance to express themselves creatively.

By providing a safe environment, supplies, and furniture, Encourage School restores dignity and structure in the lives of children. Each day at Encourage is a step toward rebuilding hope for these young learners and their families.

World Refugee Day reminds us that education is not a privilege—it is a fundamental right and a foundation for peace and opportunity. Supporting these children in accessing education is supporting their future—and ours.

If you wish to get involved and support Encourage School, donate here: /help

Dedicated to children affected by forced displacement, we just launched our campaign, Little Smiles, with the first stop in Jordan.

On Saturday, April 5, our team traveled 80 km north of the Jordanian capital to a tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of the city of Mafraq to hand a gift package to Syrian refugee children sheltering with their families in the settlement. The package consists of an outfit, a toy, and some candy and was delivered to about 100 girls and boys between the ages of 5 and 10 years.

Forced displacement can lead to trauma in children, including PTSD, anxiety, and learning difficulties. Chronic stress impacts brain development, emotional health, and social skills. However, support programs like our campaign Little Smiles can help them heal and rebuild their futures. As of March 2025, Jordan hosts around 558,000 registered Syrian refugees, with about half of them being children.

Little Smiles brought joy and printed big smiles on children’s faces after receiving their gift from our team. Some put on their new outfits, while others unpacked their gifts and played with their toys.

“On behalf of all the mothers in the camp, I want to thank you for thinking of our children. This eases our lives and makes us feel that we matter.”  Thuraya, a 40-year-old Syrian refugee mother from Al Hasaka, expresses her gratitude while joining her son.

Holding hands while waiting with other children to receive their gifts, 7-year-old Syrian refugee Hadeel and her 6-year-old sister Ayleen were thrilled to get new clothes and toys and even happier to receive candy.

Yahya, the 5-year-old from Al Hasaka, was more excited to play with the ball than to wear his new outfit. “I’m so happy to have a ball to play with because I get bored and have nothing to do.”

For several years now, the foundation has consistently launched projects in these settlements aimed at helping and empowering Syrian refugee families sheltering there. Projects include Empowerment by Empowerment by Solar, Beat the Cold, Safe and healthy, and Cooler Summer.

In October 2024, we opened “Rooms for Hope” in the Al Azraq refugee camp in Jordan. This initiative provided a safe and welcoming space for Syrian refugee children and their families. We successfully installed two functional caravans: one serves as an organized play area, and the other as a nursery. Since then, Rooms for Hope has been offering daily activities, creating a nurturing environment for families in the camp.

Please contact us if you wish to contribute to this campaign, or you can directly donate here.

World Unseen

Dubai, 31 January 2025 – Muhammed Muheisen, chairman and founder of the Everyday Refugees Foundation, participated in the launch of World Unseen exhibition at the Al Shindagha Historic District during the Sikka Art & Design Festival in Dubai, UAE.

During his visit, Muheisen led the Young People Program Masterclass, a hands-on initiative for visually impaired youth from diverse backgrounds in the UAE. The program provided mentorship, skills training, and creative educational activities, designed to build confidence, communication skills, and self-expression. Participants were encouraged to explore photography as a tool to tell their own stories, reflect on their experiences, and engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.

Through interactive sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises, Muheisen guided the young people to experiment with visual storytelling, helping them develop both technical skills and personal voice. The program offered a safe, inclusive space where participants could share their perspectives, discover their creativity, and connect with peers who face similar challenges. By fostering empowerment, critical thinking, and artistic expression, the YPP seeks to inspire the next generation of storytellers to embrace their potential and pursue their passions with confidence.

The World Unseen exhibition, which showcased photography in an immersive, accessible format, was on display until 9 February 2025.

Capturing Truth Through the Lens: Photography Masterclass by world-renowned photographer Muhammed Muheisen for Iron Squad Youth in Ukraine.

Kyiv, January 17, 2025. World-renowned photographer Muhammed Muheisen, a two-time Pulitzer-prize winner and the founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit Everyday Refugees Foundation, conducts a photography masterclass in the Ukrainian capital to inspire and empower youth from Ukraine’s Iron Squad in a corporation with the Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ).

On January 17th, 2025, a group of 26 young aspiring photographers from the Iron Squad, aged 13 to 17, participated in a unique photography masterclass supported by Everyday Refugees Foundation in Kyiv.

A photo competition was launched in early January, those who entered the competition could attend the masterclass and learn from one of the world’s most accomplished photographers. Muhammed Muheisen, renowned for his compelling imagery and ability to capture the human spirit in challenging times, provided insights into the art and ethics of photography. With his guidance, the young participants learned to see the world through a different lens, exploring the power of photography as a storytelling tool. The 26 Iron Squad traveled from all corners of Ukraine to attend the masterclass, from Bucha, Sumy, Girnyk in Donetsk Oblast, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv Oblast to name a few. The Iron Squad, which was created few months after the full scale invasion in 2022, aims to train, develop and retain talented youth in Ukraine who survived occupation, fled their homes or have family members fighting in the army.

Photography as a Force for Good
In a world where images can inform, inspire, and drive change, photography acts as a powerful tool for truth-telling and transformation. The Iron Squad youth, many of whom have been personally affected by the ongoing conflict, are now equipped with the skills to tell their own narratives.

As Muhammed Muheisen emphasized during the masterclass, “Every photo you take has the power to make an impact and create change. It’s not just about taking a picture; it’s about telling a story that matters.”

A Contest That Inspires Change
One of the highlights of the day was the photo contest. The young photographers were encouraged in early January to use their cameras to capture images, convey emotions, and tell their own stories. Muhammed Muheisen personally reviewed all the entries, providing constructive feedback and encouraging the young, aspiring photographers. The overall winner of the photo competition received a professional camera, the two runners-up got a selfie printer, and everybody got a certificate of participation.

The contest was more than just a competition; it was an empowering experience that highlighted the importance of documenting the world around them in their own voice.

Inna Pantyukhova, 15, from Girnyk in Donetsk Oblast, was the overall winner of the photo competition.

“I’m so happy and surprised that I won! I started taking photographs at the beginning of the full-scale invasion to capture the moments around me. I want to go back to those places I can’t visit now and show the world how beautiful Ukraine is.”

The masterclass with Muhammed Muheisen was not just a lesson in photography; it was a lesson in hope, humanity, and the power of photography to change the world, a photo at the time.