This poem, penned by one of our refugee clients who received support from our immigration team in Charlottesville, serves as a testament to the strength, courage, and unwavering hope that reside within those who have faced unimaginable challenges.

 

From Ashes to Hope

A poem by Joseph Ngoma; Charlottesville, VA

To the International Rescue Committee,

I lift my voice,

With a heart full of gratitude, I rejoice.

From the depths of despair, you heard my cry,

You gave me wings when I couldn’t fly.

 

Sixteen years in a shadowed land,

A refugee, with no home, no hand.

War stole my peace, my joy, my light,

Yet you reached for me in the darkest night.

 

Where sorrow ruled, and hope was small,

You gave me shelter, you gave me all.

A roof above, a place to rest,

Safety, dignity—you gave your best.

You opened doors I thought were sealed,

You healed the wounds I thought unhealed.

A new life, a new chance, a future to see,

You gave these gifts to my family and me.

 

Now I walk in a land of grace,

With freedom’s song in every space.

And though I still remember pain,

Your kindness washed away the stain.

 

To the refugees you welcome with care,

To the lost and broken, everywhere,

You are a beacon, a steady guide,

Restoring hope, turning the tide.

 

Let me say thank you, again and again,

For easing the burdens, for sharing the pain.

To the USA, this nation of heart,

Your open arms gave me a new start.

 

If you saw the hell I left behind,

The torment, the loss, the scars confined,

You’d know the depth of this gratitude true,

For all you’ve done and continue to do.

 

So I lift my prayer to heaven above,

May you be blessed for this labor of love.

And as you serve with compassion’s flame,

May the world remember and honor your name.