Marwan

My name is Marwan, and I am from Sana’a, Yemen.

Before I came to Malaysia, I was studying Anaesthesiology. I had a clear path ahead of me and was working towards a career in medicine.

Then war changed everything.

My activism also placed my life in danger, and in 2015 I was forced to leave Yemen and come to Malaysia. Leaving was not simply about leaving a country. It meant leaving behind my studies, my plans and the future I had planned for myself.

When one door closed, another opened

My journey with Same Skies began in 2023.

Being part of the organisation gave me an opportunity to continue moving forward, learning and contributing at a time when my future was still uncertain. It also gave me opportunities to develop new skills and contribute to work that has meaning to me.

As a Refugee Outreach Coordinator, I have had the opportunity to support refugee communities, contribute to the wider community, and represent refugee voices at regional conferences.

For me, being able to speak about the experiences and perspectives of refugee communities is important. Refugees have a lot to contribute, and our voices deserve to be part of conversations about the issues that affect us.

Moving forward

My journey has not always been easy.

While living in Malaysia, I experienced two serious security incidents, including a traffic accident that left me with multiple fractures.

During those difficult moments, Same Skies stood beside me with compassion and support. Knowing that people trusted me, cared about my wellbeing and continued to believe in me made a real difference.

Those experiences have strengthened my commitment to continue contributing to refugee communities and to the wider community around me.

I have had to reshape my life in circumstances I never expected to face, in a place where I never expected to spend so many years. My path has taken a very different direction from the one I had planned while studying medicine in Yemen.

But I am still learning. I am still growing. And I am still finding ways to serve others.

I want to keep moving forward with purpose, resilience and hope—and to help other people do the same.