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HostNation stories
Powerful accounts of friendships that change lives
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Friends without borders
CROSS-CULTURAL CONNECTION A Londoner whose mother fled the Nazis and an Afghan medic have formed a close bond. The fact that they come...
Our superpower
HEALING THROUGH FRIENDSHIP Before Khadim met Mark, he barely went out. Denied the right to work, without any London friends, he felt...
Yogi: refugee to chef
A NEW START At HostNation we've just witnessed a wonderful reunion that melted our hearts. It goes back to one of our very early matches,...
Finding friends for LGBTQ+ refugees
ACCEPTANCE & TRUST We are seeing an increase in referrals of people seeking asylum after being persecuted due to their sexual preference. The gay movement United Queerdom, for example, have referred several community members to us, whom we have connected with LGBTQ+ befrienders ready to help them feel accepted in their host cities. A great example is the friendship match between Marcus, a chemical engineer from Uzbekistan, and Mark, a senior HR professional. When we introdu
1000 friendships
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
You saved my life
CLARE & WASEEM This is the story of a Manchester friendship that changed a life. Last May we introduced Clare to Waseem. The pink-haired...
Bahaa and the Arsenal
JOSH & BAHAA The story of a true meeting of football minds and a childhood dream come true. By HostNation's Anthony Berman "Which...
A perfect friend
MIKE & HAMID Befriending Hamid has been “very much the highlight of my year” says Mike. The goodwill goes both ways, with Hamid...
Asylum speakers
HENRY & AFEWERKI In "The Journey", the inspiring podcast from Worldwide Tribe, Jaz O’Hara traces the refugee journey from start to...
"To have a bike is like having hope again.”
If you’re living on just £5.84 per day like most asylum seekers in the UK, cutting costs is essential. A bike not only gets you to vital...
"It was one of the highlights of my life.”
CHLOE & SHOAIB A visit to Wembley stadium with a new friend has fulfilled a life-long dream for an isolated asylum seeker. For Shoaib, a...
Friends star on Channel 5 News
MEGAN, NADA & EMAL We are thrilled that Megan, Nada and Emal have featured in an ITN news programme celebrating the power of friendship...
"They gave me a piece of happiness."
GEORGE & SAID | HAFEZ, SARA & SALVATORE We are thrilled to see some of our HostNation friends featuring in a heartwarming article in The...
A friend in deed: my experience with HostNation
OLIVIA PETIE A HostNation trustee who started with us as a volunteer befriender tells her story. Olivia is a social researcher and...
Modern friendships in a crazy world
REBECCA & PINAR Rebecca and her refugee friend Pinar were interviewed for podcast A Friend Indeed, in the episode: 'Friendship that...
She is family to me
HANIFAH & HELEN Hanifah was on her own with a six-month old baby when we introduced her to Helen. In this interview in front of a live...
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