Rahmatullah

My name is Rahmatullah Bayani, and I am originally from Afghanistan. Like many others, I had to flee my country in search of safety and hope for a better future.

I lived as a refugee in Indonesia for 10 years, from 2015 to 2025 — a long period filled with waiting, uncertainty, and limited opportunities. Life in limbo can easily make you lose your sense of purpose, but everything changed when I found Refugee Learning Nest, one of Same Skies' collaborative projects.

I began volunteering with Refugee Learning Nest in 2016, and what started as a small step became one of the most meaningful journeys of my life. I discovered my passion for education, community building, and teamwork. Refugee Learning Nest became more than just a learning centre — it became a home filled with laughter, learning, and hope.

Same Skies believed in us when few others did. They didn’t come to “help” us from above — they walked beside us, trusted us, and gave us the confidence to shape our own community. That trust changed everything. It helped me grow as a leader, a mentor, and a person.

Now, after nearly nine years of volunteering, I have finally been resettled in Canada, carrying with me all the lessons, friendships, and memories from Indonesia. Same Skies and Refugee Learning Nest gave meaning to my years of waiting and turned a time of uncertainty into a journey of growth and connection.

I will always be grateful for the people who believed in me and for the spirit of Same Skies, a belief that we can all create change, even when our skies are not the same.