Presenting
a new venture
‘We Were Here’ is the People’s Voice WEBBY winner for Documentary Series and is nominated for the BRITISH ARROWS, THE ONE CLUB FOR CREATIVITY for Branded Entertainment.
A series of director-led short documentaries that bring together refugee contributors spanning Jordan, Syria, Germany, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Uganda and the DRC with YouTube Creators globally to explore their shared passions, altering existing perceptions around refugees by telling human-focused, emotional stories to millions worldwide. Created to mark World Refugee Day, presented by UNHCR & YouTube.
THE BRIEF
World Refugee Day 2023 theme was Hope Away from Home: A world where refugees are always included. Displaced people have suffered incredible hardship, and that should never be diminished – but nor should it define them. Refugees deserve to be celebrated for their individuality as much as anyone, if not more so.
In collaboration with Uncommon Creative Studios, The UNHCR and YouTube, we set out to give audiences a unique insight into the lives of refugees with three original short films that actively challenge stereotypes and instead ignite an emotional connection by focusing on what we have in common – our shared passions.
Bringing together a team of richly diverse filmmakers giving each episode a unique tone and identity. Renowned director Alma Har’el joined the series as executive producer, and Oscar-nominated director Laura Checkoway came on board as both series director and the author of one episode. The other two episodes are directed by the internationally acclaimed Jordanian director Mahmoud Al Massad and British-Ghanaian rising star Curtis Essel. Their collective expertise lies in creating entertainment that makes people profoundly curious and elevates consciousness.
“Refugees leave so much behind to find safety, but they carry with them their creativity, and we have to work harder to give them the opportunity to pursue their passions.”
Dominique Hyde, Director of UNHCR’s Division for External Relations
PRODUCTION
The sensitivity required for this subject is in safe hands with Laura Checkoway as the series showrunner. One of her specialities is to take great care in collaborating with contributors. Through years of experience, she has the skillset and wisdom to navigate even the most challenging circumstances, always bringing out the beauty and looking toward the light.
The team focused on casting refugee contributors first, casting the net globally, including countries where the largest number of refugees originate, and focusing on refugees with various backgrounds – from stateless to re-settled. The brief was not limited to any particular passion or skill. Each of the stories represents a unique perspective and reason behind displacement. Some have just arrived, whilst others are well established in their new community. Key in the casting process became the pairing and connection between the displaced contributor, creator and director. A process that spanned four months and included hundreds of hours of Zoom calls, on-the-ground support globally and careful relationship-building with extraordinary individuals.
Communicating from the heart and finding commonality with people beyond bounds is one of the infinitely satisfying parts of this work. Empowering refugee voices stood central, and our team worked closely with our final contributors as active participants in the filmmaking process.
THE FILMS
The Toymaker
[8’ 20]
Dir. Mahmoud al Massad – Syria, Jordan, USA, Sweden, Palestine, Netherlands.
At Azraq refugee camp, in the middle of the Jordanian desert, YouTube inventor Simone Giertz meets Mohammad Waheed, a grandfather, retired construction worker and Syrian refugee, known as the camp’s toymaker. Together they set out to build a toy helicopter that they hope will fly, along the way overcoming creative and cultural differences to form a deep connection. An uplifting, heartwarming and emotionally-charged film about play and creativity, which also gives a rare insight into life in a remote refugee camp.
Play now
The Toymaker
Photographer: Emily Garthwaite 
Mohammad and Simone share their passion for inventing, engineering, and the magic of playful creations.
REFUGEE CONTRIBUTOR: MOHAMMAD, THE TOY MAKER
Mohammad is a Syrian grandfather, a retired construction worker, and the toymaker of Azraq refugee camp in Jordan. A brilliant inventor, Mohammad first started making toys after he retired, whilst still living in Syria. Having 14 children and 28 grandchildren, he has a deep love for children as well as a lifelong interest in how things are built and operate.
Currently experimenting with magnets and batteries, and using recycled materials to make his toys, Mohammad’s creations have got him a reputation within the camp, and children come to him with requests. His toys are sometimes colourful, always ingenious and, of course, fun. Along with the very many he has made already, he says he has a head full of ideas, including some that he can’t quite realise, mainly because of having limited materials.
Azraq camp in Jordan houses around 800,000 displaced people, mainly from Syria. It is a place with harsh conditions, where people like Mohamed look to their creativity to make better lives for everyone there. He has lived in the camp for more than seven years, leaving behind a farm in Syria and a comfortable life. Despite the hardships he has been through, Mohamed says there is joy in the camp and in their lives – he is someone whose passion and enthusiasm shines through.
CREATOR PAIRING: INVENTOR – SIMONE GIERTZ
Simone Luna Louise Söderlund Giertz (b.1990) is a Swedish inventor, maker, robotics enthusiast, TV host, and professional YouTuber.
Often dubbed the “Queen of Shitty Robots,” Simone is an extraordinary inventor, YouTuber, and comedian whose unconventional approach to technology and boundless creativity have captivated audiences worldwide.
As her online presence grew, Simone Giertz ventured into various projects, including hosting a late-night talk show, “Robot Restaurant,” and making guest appearances on TV shows like “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” She also embarked on ambitious projects, such as converting a Tesla into a pickup truck, demonstrating her engineering prowess and fearless approach to innovation.
While exploring inventing and robotics in her videos she’s also very open about her own personal life – notably her brain tumour she had last year.
“The power of these films is the message it shares — one of solidarity — focussing on what unites us rather than sets us apart. These stories are beautifully woven together and brought to life by our incredible partners Lief, Alma Har’el and Laura Checkoway — crafting each moving story with delicate care and consideration.”
Charlie Gatsky, Chief Production Officer at Uncommon
The Permaculturist
[10’ 11]
Dir. Curtis Essel – DRC, Uganda, Wales, UK, Ghana
Spanning Wales, Uganda and Germany, this episode sees vegan chef, permaculture enthusiast, and YouTuber Gaz Oakley meet permaculture expert Bemeriki Dusabe, a Congolese refugee who has been living in Rwamwanja settlement in Uganda for the last 16 years, where he has set up a foundation teaching others how to grow their food — a testament to the incredible strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. A poignant film about self-sufficiency, growth, community and connection.
Play now
The Permaculturist
Photographer: Christina Nwabugo 
Bemeriki and Gaz share their passion for gardening, permaculture & growing your food.
REFUGEE CONTRIBUTOR: BEMERIKI DUSABE
Bemeriki is a highly skilled and intelligent gardener and grower, who has run a non profit permaculture foundation near his home for the last 16 years, the Nakivale refugee settlement in Southwestern Uganda. He is an ingenious gardener with a creative approach to growing, whose dream is for everyone to have the skills to grow enough food for themselves: “You can grow food anywhere – in a bottle, in a crate”.
Currently excited by mushrooms in particular, he is keen to learn new skills and exchange techniques with someone and we think your gardening skills, warmth and sense of fun would bring so much to this film. After fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child, Bemeriki first started growing vegetables at 13 years old, as there was (and still is) often famine in Uganda.
Initially being denied schooling due to a lack of funds, as a teenager Bemeriki worked to pay for his education himself, and went on to take permaculture courses after graduating and becoming a teaching assistant. He has a wife and two children also living in the settlement with him, and is a quietly determined, calm character who talks about bees (problematic and forbidden in some places in the camp), food security, food diversity, charcoal, no waste, food as medicine, no GM seeds and mushrooms! As well as growing, he is interested in nutrition and is a creative vegan cook, passionate about ending malnutrition.
CREATOR PAIRING: CHEF – GAZ OAKLEY
Gaz Oakley is a Welsh YouTuber and chef, born on November 26, 1992, in Cardiff, Wales. He is known for his plant-based cooking and his popular YouTube channel, Gaz Oakley, previously called Avant-Garde Vegan.
Gaz’s interest in cooking started at a young age, and he trained in professional kitchens throughout his teenage years. In 2015, he decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle after watching documentaries about animal agriculture and the impact it has on the environment. He has since moved out of London to live on his own farm, practicing permaculture.
He is a passionate advocate for plant-based living and sustainability, and he continues to inspire others to adopt a more plant-based lifestyle.
“Filmmaking has the transformative power to rewrite the representation of refugee voices in film, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to bring together an incredible community of filmmakers to illuminate their stories. What lies within the narratives is an urgency we must now embrace: to restore and create a brighter future for all.”
Margo Mars, founder, Lief
The Musicians [9’25]
Dir. Laura Checkoway – Ukraine, Ethiopia, Germany, USA
In a village just outside Stuttgart, chart-topping DJ & Producer Jax Jones meets displaced Ukrainian—Ethiopian sisters Betty, Siona and Miriam, who form hip-hop trio Fo Sho together. Restarting their lives in Germany, they are overcoming creative and personal struggles whilst discovering the healing power of sisterhood and music. Working on a track in the studio together, we learn both artists share a common language, searching for belonging.
Play now
The Musicians
Photographer: Myah Jeffers 
Fo Sho and Jax Jones share their passion for music, creativity and the importance of family.
REFUGEE CONTRIBUTOR: FO SHO
Betty, Miriam & Siona are three sisters who make up Ukrainian hip hop group Fo Sho. Originally classically trained musicians, they were part of a blossoming Ukrainian rap scene before having to flee due to the war. Their music is sassy, punchy and their videos are playful – they’ve had write ups in Rolling Stone, and their characters shine through in their work.
In Ukraine, Betty trained as a dentist and Siona studied journalism – the sisters come together through their music. Currently displaced in Germany, the sisters are taking daily German lessons and are just beginning their musical journey again. Siona has bought a piano, they have a touring manager and are trying to find their creativity in the new reality in which they’ve found themselves.
At home, moving from a comfortable life in Ukraine, the sisters currently share one room with their parents in a host family house just outside of Stuttgart. The sisters and their family are Jewish, and their host family regularly host Shabbat dinners for them on Fridays to make them feel at home.
The sisters have also brought their cat with them from Ukraine, who lives with them and the host family, saying “He’s a survivor too!”.
CREATOR PAIRING: ARTIST – JAX JONES
Jax Jones is a household name in the UK – he’s had numerous top 10s, been nominated for multiple Brit Awards and Grammys, has 100s of millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify, and worked with some of the biggest names in music: Demi Lovato, Stefflon Don, Raye.
He grew up in a multicultural household, which shaped his tastes from a young age – exposing to him to a diverse range of musical influences, helping him to craft his unique, infectious sound. Although he’s a massive name now, success didn’t come easily or immediately to Jax – he had a turbulent upbringing and had difficulties in getting to where he is, but he had the self-belief to know he was on the right path and pursue his art at any cost.
IMPACT
All films were released on the creator’s YouTube channel on World Refugee Day, June 20th. As well as releasing all films at once, we unleashed a simultaneous marketing and promotional campaign. Each of these stories is a powerful and perception-altering film in its own right. But collectively, the series paints a diverse picture of refugee experiences that speak to a larger narrative that challenges expectations around what a refugee can or should be.
The films were uploaded as if they were part of their everyday content – surprising an audience of millions with an exclusive preview and turning an audience that would do nothing into an audience that will want to do something. YouTube creators were carefully paired to hold their loyal large following from different backgrounds and walks of life to maximise reach.
When it comes to shared passions, YouTube was the perfect platform. Quite simply, it’s why it exists – an entire world of Creators use the platform to share their passion with hundreds of millions of fans every week. Three untold stories inspired a new and engaged audience to see refugees in an entirely new light – sparking powerful solidarity with displaced people everywhere. Told with empathy and tapping into the humanity of each refugee with humour and heart, these films saw our creators and refugees share their passion and exchange their stories. The lived experiences of the refugee contributors are the backdrop rather than centre stage, allowing the audience to connect through shared humanity.
The series includes a beautiful hero icon of a dandelion — a symbol of hope, healing, and resilience — reflecting how the stories of “We Were Here” confront othering and engender solidarity by focusing on what unites us rather than sets us apart — our shared passions. This icon is seen across the design to promote the series as well as playfully interrupting the credit scene of each film.
“We are proud to share YouTube’s global platform and audience reach for World Refugee Day this year. The three YouTube creators have six million subscribers combined who will now have the privilege to be inspired by the powerful stories of refugees and to engage with their imagination, resilience and creativity.”
Camilla Hill, YouTube Marketing Director
Additionally, the series was promoted across cinema and outdoor.
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The displacement crisis crossed a new mark at the end of 2022, with the total number of people forcibly displaced globally exceeding 108.4 million for the first time. For many, the enormity and complexity of the issues can feel overwhelming: it is easy to lose sight of the individuals affected by displacement and see only the scale of the situation. The “We Were Here” series aimed to give people an opportunity to identify with individuals by connecting with something we all share — creativity. Refugees have hopes and dreams like anyone else, and being able to do what matters most to them has the power to impact the world.
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