7 YEARS OF WELCOME
We’ve hit a milestone that makes us so proud: our 1000th refugee friendship!

When we introduced Louis and Nazar recently, they were soon busy getting to know each other. "It has been so wonderful meeting Nazar," said Louis. His new friend felt the same:
“He is a really nice person and I am so happy to meet him!” NAZAR
We're so excited to announce that Louis and Nazar are the 1000th friendship we've matched since we started as a refugee befriending charity. “It's a real joy,” says our director Anneke. "We’re so proud of the wonderful friends who have made it happen."
Reaching out to refugees

Louis explains what motivated him and his partner Isobel to get involved with HostNation:
“I was interested in befriending because I wanted to give back, expand my horizons and make a new friend! I’m very much looking forward to exploring London with Nazar.”
Moved to welcome people fleeing war and persecution, a thousand warmhearted people like Louis and Isobel have offered acceptance and friendship. Too many refugees and asylum seekers in the UK struggle with social isolation, due to challenges such as inadequate housing, limited access to employment and minimal financial support.
“It’s so good to have this friendship. We discuss lots of things, especially music. Louis gives me information about the city, this country, the different culture here. He is very helpful.” NAZAR
And in turn, these new arrivals in our communities give back so much to their befrienders. “After meeting Nazar twice I have learnt so much about his culture and already feel as though we have a great friendship ahead,” says Louis.
Our first-ever friendship

To our delight, the very first friendship we helped create seven years ago is today a stronger bond than ever. Back in 2017, Yvette was an isolated asylum seeker in London, lacking the confidence to go out and explore the city.
Meeting her befriender Dani changed all that. “I've been to places and done things I never thought I'd go to or do,” Yvette told us just three months after their introduction. "HostNation has changed my life, since I met Dani."
“I used to always feel that there was something heavy inside, now I know it was because of what was not there in my life – the thing that was missing. I needed love and care, someone to be there. Before this I was dying inside.” YVETTE
Bond of trust
The relationship between these two women who would otherwise never have met has had a big impact on both of them. “I love having a befriender," says Yvette. "I'm not feeling lonely anymore. It makes me feel really good to have her in my life. I trust her completely.”
Yvette’s story underlines the truth of our core mission at HostNation: every refugee deserves a friend. It’s simple yet transformative – and that’s what drew Dani to sign up with us.
“I loved the simplicity of the idea of providing friendship and companionship for someone navigating London.” DANI
Since then, the two friends have spent every Christmas together except during the pandemic.
For Yvette, whose previous life had many challenges, Dani has brought a whole new experience of fun and feeling appreciated. Her highlights are: “My first time celebrating my birthday, and my first time eating out in a nice restaurant!”
Dani describes their walks and exhibitions together, the movie outings, and the huge celebrations when Yvette got her refugee status. Looking back now over seven years together, Yvette gets to the heart of what makes their friendship special:
“It’s having someone to call a friend who is ready to accept me as I am.”
An enriching experience
The experiences sparked by befriending have helped refugees like Yvette and Nazar feel welcomed, connected, and hopeful as they rebuild their lives in a new country. “People are discovering each other across barriers of language, cultural differences and traumatic events,” says HostNation director Anneke. “It can be profoundly healing.”
Refugees gradually build trust, relax and just have the chance to be themselves.
88 per cent of our refugee friends report increased wellbeing after having a befriender.
94 per cent of our befrienders find the process rewarding
A two-way process

Our befrienders often comment on how showing their refugee friend around helps them to see their city with new eyes, whether that’s in London, Manchester or Newcastle.
“It’s great to show off the city you live in and love,” explains George, a long-time befriender with HostNation. “It’s about getting refugees here to feel like they are Londoners, too.”
Befriender Chloe had often been to the football at Wembley, but going with Shoaib made it a fresh experience. “It was so much fun,” Chloe says. “It was a great show. I had to take Shoaib after he told me he had always dreamed of being able to go inside. It was so great to see him all wrapped up in the flag!”
Towards the cities of the future
The more people who learn about each other's cultures and differences in the spirit of friendship, the more our communities are rewarded . Through these powerful human connections, our cities of the future can become friendlier places, with more cross-cultural understanding, less loneliness and more joy.
So as we celebrate the flourishing HostNation family that has grown up over the last seven years and look to the friendships that lie ahead, we are inspired by Yvette’s beautiful words:
“The best thing is that you feel like you have a family you can turn to. It’s all about love.”
We’ve made 1000 friendships. Help us make a thousand more.
