27/05/2026
Dear refugee advocate,
My name is Dhekra. I'm an award-winning doctor, but also a refugee. This is my story.
Fleeing Yemen - my home - was not an easy decision; it was driven by the escalating violence and instability in my country. Leaving behind everything I had ever known felt like tearing my life out by the roots.
I had to walk away from my extended family, my friends, and the community that had shaped me, leaving behind a silence that felt like loss in its purest form.
Arriving in Australia, living between separation and hope, between presence and absence, left me feeling fractured. That constant tension, that lingering incompleteness, felt almost unbearable.
Despite this, I hold on to a deep sense of gratitude, for the chance to rebuild, to begin again, and to slowly find my place in a new community.
In those early months I faced challenges, but I also found resilience and strength within myself, which fuelled my determination to embrace my new life in Australia.
The hardest part of applying for protection was having to revisit and explain painful experiences from my past, and to remember how my home country is no longer the safe, protective place it once was.
It was also very difficult to cope with the uncertainty and the long waiting periods, not knowing what the future would hold. It was emotionally challenging and stressful not knowing what the outcome would be.
But RACS lawyers gave me clear and honest advice about my case, and their generous support made a very stressful situation much easier to manage.
The moment I received news of my permanent visa is one I will never forget.
It felt as though a heavy weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders. I was overwhelmed with relief, gratitude, and happiness as the uncertainty I had lived with for so long finally came to an end.
It also meant something deeper: safety, stability, and the chance to begin building a future without fear.
I would like people who donate to RACS to know that their support truly makes a real difference in people’s lives. Because of their generosity, people like me can access legal help, understand our rights, and have a fair chance to tell our stories.
Their support brings hope during very difficult and uncertain times. It’s not just about legal assistance, it’s about feeling heard, supported, and not alone.
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Give refugee women like Dhekra the good news of permanent safety with a tax time donation: https://loom.ly/oIkwxH0
