Florence Wilson, Liberian refugee Oakland, California 1st Place Winner - Middle School "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."

Ahmed Adan, Somali refugee Oakland, California 2nd Place Winner - Middle School "In this picture there are the Oakland buildings, the pedestrian traffic, the flowers up the picture, the mannequin, the traffic light turning yellow. In the middle, you see me. That day I remember, it felt like I was in Africa, the sun was hot and shiny but there was no clouds. Everything was new for me because I am in USA."

Nigara Mirzayeva, Meskhetian Turk refugee Oakland, California 3rd Place - High School "A morning walk with my cousin in Oakland, our new home."

Charles Cope, Liberian refugee Oakland, California 3rd Place Winner - Elementary School "My picture has my two brothers Preston and Levi there on my dad's car. In Africa we didn't have cars like these and its pretty cool. And in the background there's our house. In Africa we don't have houses that big."

(June 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.