Selection Announced as Number of People Uprooted by War Reaches Decade-High Level, 122.1 Million
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In recognition of World Refugee Day, June 20, USA for UNHCR today announced Desange Kuenihira, a former refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the organization’s featured storyteller.
Desange’s narrative of her journey – a path that led her from a refugee camp in Uganda to being welcomed to resettle in Salt Lake City, Utah – was selected from a group of powerful submissions to the organization’s annual Storyteller Celebration contest.
Desange Kuenihira is USA for UNHCR’s 2025 Refugee Storyteller Celebration winner and World Refugee Day featured storyteller.
“What motivates me to share my story is the belief that our experiences, especially the most challenging ones, have the power to inspire and connect us,” says Desange. “I’ve lived through hardships that have shaped me in profound ways, and by sharing my journey, I hope to offer hope, resilience, and a sense of solidarity to others who may be facing similar struggles.”
As a child, Desange’s family was forced to flee violence in the DRC, finding safety in a UNHCR-supported refugee camp in Uganda. Nearly a decade later, Desange was resettled in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, she is a graduate of the University of Utah and the author of Undefeated Woman, a book chronicling her refugee journey – from the daily struggles of life in a refugee camp in Uganda to resettling in the United States. In 2020, Desange founded unDEfeated, a non-profit organization that provides educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for girls and women with extreme financial hardship in Uganda.
“Desange’s dedication to uplifting refugee women and girls in Uganda at a moment when the humanitarian sector is facing the devastating impact of funding cuts is a brave act of love,” shares Suzanne Ehlers, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR. “Because of the contributions of individuals like Desange, one more person can get lifesaving aid and one more person can look toward a more hopeful future.”
In Utah, Desange surrounded herself with mentors who supported her goals and aspirations.
“In a new country, far from home, the kindness of strangers became my lifeline,” Desange reflects. “I learned that no matter where we come from, we share a common humanity, and it is through compassion and connection that we truly thrive.”
To screen a short film featuring Desange and learn more about her journey and work, visit unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/world-refugee-day/.
About USA for UNHCR
USA for UNHCR protects and supports refugees by mobilizing resources, elevating awareness and driving action through a network of engaged supporters. Supporting UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – and its partners, we provide lifesaving essentials including shelter, water, food, safety and protection. Around the world, we help refugees survive, recover and build a better future. Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.UNrefugees.org.
First celebrated on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, World Refugee Day is a day to show solidarity with refugees — honoring their experiences, making space for their stories, and advocating for their right to seek safety and for solutions to their plight.
USA for UNHCR Media Contact:
Nicholas Feeney, Director, Communications
[email protected]
SOURCE USA for UNHCR
