On this episode of IRUSA’s “What a Relief! Podcast, our host, B.C. Dodge sits down with One Journey Festival founders Vanda Berninger and Wendy Chan to talk about the upcoming festival and what one journey is all about!
The One Journey Festival
The founders of the One Journey Festival envision a world where refugees and other displaced people are welcomed, valued, and supported so they and their host communities can thrive together; and part of this is having a good understanding of each other.
This festival is an opportunity for people to come out and experience other cultures, to help garner a deeper love and appreciation of one another. People can experience food, dancing, and other culturally enriching events.
The One Journey
The concept of being a refugee, a displaced person, or simply being an immigrant, is a reality that is close to Vanda and Wendy’s heart.
In 1991, as civil war broke out in Croatia, Vanda left her home country for Germany. In 1989, Wendy immigrated to the United States from China, to unite with her extended family, many of whom had fled China as refugees to escape the civil war.
Being a Refugee or Displaced Person
To understand this story, you have to place yourself in the shoes of someone that has lost everything, or has left everything, to seek a better life for themselves and their family. They are going to a place where they may not speak the language, they may not understand the culture, all to seek security.
In some cases, like that of Wendy, the children are forced to grow up faster than they should, just to help sustain the family. But, it does not matter the back story, at the end of the day, we are all on one journey.
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“What a Relief!” is the official podcast of Islamic Relief USA. Hosted by digital media specialist B.C. Dodge, IRUSA’s “What a Relief!” puts a human face on what’s going on in the world and how you can enact positive change in it. New episodes every week!
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