With the widespread impacts of COVID-19, we decided to move our event to an all virtual experience for this year’s Sunset Run for Refugees. As part of our commitment to shine a light on our partner organizations’ work around the world to support and facilitate critical services for refugees, our Public Relations Manager Mayra Ordonez, spoke with Angela Eiffert, a Global Connector from Alight (formerly known as the American Refugee Committee). Below you’ll find a transcript of their conversation.

Gais Zifa had lived a relatively normal childhood in his home country in Damascus, Syria up until 2011.

The Syrian conflict began in early 2011 with demonstrations demanding President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation, as his family had held presidency over Syria since 1971. Over the course of the following two years, Gais focused on earning good grades, as the last few years of high school are known to “make-or-break” a Syrian’s future. But even with the intent of successfully graduating high school, Gais and his family’s future was already in danger.