Refugee Student Photographers Honored

15 Jun 2007 - Four refugee students resettled by the International rescue Committee in Oakland, California, have been recognized by the National Geographic Society for photographs taken as part of a national World Refugee Day photo contest. Refugee students in grades 4 to 12 from all over the U.S. took part in the contest sponsored by UNHCR and its goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie.

Sixteen refugee students from Oakland participated in the contest.

The four winners are Florence Wilson, 14, a Liberian, first place in the high school category; Ahmed Adan, 14, a Somali, second place in the middle school category; Nigara Mirzayeva, 15, a Meskhetian Turk, third place in the high school category and Charles Cope, 11, a Liberian,third place in the elementary school category.

Florence Wilson will attend the award ceremony at the National Geographic Society in Washington on June 20, World Refugee Day. The caption for her award winning shot reads: "You see in this picture that the kids in my family are having fun. I think it is amazing that here in America, kids have time to play. I remember when I was a kid in Africa, I was working hard and had to do all the stuff I was supposed to do, like get water and carry it on my head."

Photo Essay

View the four winning photos >