The Voices of Children at the Center for Refugee Services of San Antonio
The Center for Refugee Services serves more than 1,000 refugees annually. Many of these refugees are children who have experienced war, terrorism, gang violence, and religious and ethnic persecution. We curated this collection of watercolor paintings created by a group of children at the Center. The children were asked to reflect on the nostalgia of leaving their homeland and the possibilities of their future as their family created a new home in San Antonio.
~ Shams Al Azzawi, Age 8
“I am from Iraq. I remember my big house. We go outside and it was fun. But Iraq has some problems and we come to America. I like school in America!”
~ Kely Sae, Age 6
“I am from Thailand. I remember elephants and birds. I want to give someone shots, like a doctor.”
~ Mushreq Alsaberi, Age 9
“I remember my dad fishing in Iraq. We fished in a river. I want to go fishing here in the United States.”
~ Paw Say Wah, Age 10
“I am from Thailand. I could talk to people. They understood me. I want to be a ballerina. I want to be a doctor and go back to Thailand.”
~ Paw Kpru Moo, Age 8
“I am from Thailand. I came with my family all. I like it here. Is good food. Is good you play. Is good to be with friends and listen to music. I want to be a police officer.”
~ Lara Al Ghrairi, Age 7
“ I am from Iraq. Iraq has problems. Strangers killed babies. My grandma said, ‘I am not eating or drinking if you don’t get out of there.’ Then we just got out. We came to Texas. We just play here. I like to go to school.”
~ Pratik Sapkota, Age 9
“I am from Nepal. I used to race to grab a chocolate. Now I live in Texas. I like to draw and paint and play soccer with my friends.”
~ Muhammad Abdul Wahid, Age 6
“I am from Malaysia. My family stayed there. The United States called me to America with my mom. I want to be police.”
~ Sunip Mangar, Age 7
“I remember Nepal. I see mountains. My father and grandpa and sister live here. When I grow up I will be a giant monster.”
~ Mariam Khalid, Age 9
“I am from Iraq. I remember playing with my sister and her friend. We played house. We had toys and a lot of things. Now I like to go to my mama’s parents and play house, and we jump on the beds like a monkey!”
~ Kler Paw, Age 9
“I remember the river and mountains in Thailand. When I grow up I want to teach little kids to dance.”
~ Daniah Muayad, Age 9
“I want to be a singer in my own band with my sisters. In Iraq there are not many singers. When I grow up I can be a singer.”
~ Farah Mohammad, Age 10
“People in Pakistan sing in Urdu. I love that music.”
~ Athina Alsatam, Age 7
“I am Iraqi. I remember my grandma. We had to leave because the Arabs were trying to kill us. I think about my grandma. I want to be a doctor.”
~ Yojana Rai, Age 9
“I am from Nepal. I remember sleeping in my bed and many bugs bit me. I like Texas and I like to read in school. I want to be a teacher when I grow up.”
~ Saud Abdi, Age 8
“I am from Kenya. My family left when I was little. People were fighting and killing each other. My family likes to live in America because people don’t do so much. I wear a joulbap to cover my head. A Somalian lady gives my mom clothes. I like blue ones because that’s my favorite color. I want to be a doctor when I grow up.”
