1000 Dreams

Refugees are often depicted as invading hordes threatening identity and placing unsustainable burdens on social services. Those more sympathetic to refugees, on the other hand, regularly represent them as helpless and hopeless victims. These portrayals often focus on the trauma experienced in home countries. Many overlook the deplorable conditions in which refugees live, and the second class treatment they are subject to in the countries now hosting them – which can cause damaging and long-lasting impacts. These narratives form attitudes that affect policies and practices that, at best, are not as effective as they could be, and at worst, can have severe negative impacts on the lives of refugees.

One Thousand Dreams seeks to change these narratives through a storytelling project that tells the stories of 1000 refugees around the world. For attitudes, policies and practices to change, the narrative must change.

For the narrative to change, the lives of refugees have to be authentically represented – their voices must be heard. The 1000 interviews, conducted entirely by storytellers with a refugee background, amplify the voices of refugees and open a door to their misunderstood and misrepresented world. Interviews provide insights into the individual lives of refugees and the emotional impact of current policies and attitudes. Supporting refugees to document the stories of other refugees allows opportunities for dialogue that isn’t influenced by prevailing narratives. For host communities to listen, they must identify with the refugees – to no longer see them as a homogeneous group of outsiders, but as individuals with hopes, needs and dreams similar to their own.

The pictures and interviews that make up this project were collected by 100+ storytellers of a refugee background who participated in a storytelling workshop led by Robin Hammond & the Witness Change team. Workshops have taken place in Athens and the Island of Lesvos (Greece), London (UK), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Istanbul (Turkey), Barcelona (Spain), New York City, San Antonio, and Detroit (USA), as well as online (three). From the workshops, refugee storytellers were mentored by Robin Hammond over several months as they produced their portraits and interviews. Together, the workshops and mentorship, supports the refugee storytellers to build the skills to produce the portraits and interviews that have become 1000 Dreams.

The project was first released on World Refugee Day 20 June, 2021 and in its first week reached more than 100 million people around the world. Exhibitions and publications continue to expand the reach of these voices across borders.