On February 2025, Project FEV3 – Breathing Hope hosted its fifth event, bringing together powerful voices of resilience and hope, featuring Nicky Mikanda and Kouame Esaie. This event was held at Casa do Imigrante, where refugees with less than three months of experience in Brazil gathered to hear stories of perseverance, struggle, and success.

Nicky Mikanda, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has called Brazil home for nearly nine years. She shared her personal journey of adapting to a new country and the challenges that came with it. Nicky’s story particularly resonated with the newcomers, as she encouraged them to focus on learning Portuguese as the key to unlocking opportunities in the Brazilian job market. “Language is the key,” she emphasized. “By improving your language skills, you open doors to a better future. It takes time, but always take the time with hope, and you will grow.”

Nicky’s message was an inspiring one today, she works with Western Union Brazil, and she reflected on the importance of progress and not giving up, no matter how slow the journey may seem.

The second speaker, Kouame Esaie, a refugee from Togo, also shared valuable insights. He encouraged the participants to seize every opportunity, no matter how small it may seem. “Start anywhere, accept the job, and move forward,” he advised. “As refugees, we always begin from point A, but it’s the only way to move forward.” Like Nicky, Kouame stressed that learning the language and staying hopeful are essential steps in building a better future.

The event concluded with a heartfelt expression of gratitude from both speakers, who thanked Western Union Brazil for its support and for helping refugees achieve their goals. Their stories were not just inspiring, they were a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope in overcoming adversity.

Through Project FEV3 – Breathing Hope, refugees are not only finding hope they are finding the tools they need to succeed.