#ThrowbackThursday #RefugeesWelcome #BoatPeople #StraightOuttaCamp

Boat people fleeing. Escaping violent wars. Struggling in poverty. Borders open and borders closed to welcoming and unwelcoming locals. To the thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia across the world, today’s images of Europe’s refugee crisis triggers those same memories. Over 30 years later, we’re still grappling with how we’re remembering, reflecting, and healing from the past in the midst of what we all feel too familiar with. Nor Sanavongsay’s newspaper clipping is an example of that.

“My thoughts when looking at the newspaper clipping is, “we were so oblivious to what was happening and the significance of the history we were making.” When I think back about those times again, I wished I had been more in contact with my sponsors. They pretty much saved our lives, and gave us a better one. We owe a lot to them for taking great care of us.”

-Nor Sanavongsay, Founder of Sahtu Press

What do you think of the current refugee crisis? Do you have a similar memory from the past?