Fight for Home: High School Students Share Stories of Displacement at the Manitoba Legislature

On February 4, 2025, four high school students stood before teachers, loved ones, media, and government officials at the Manitoba Legislature. They were there for the official launch of International Development Week (IDW)—a time to reflect on global challenges and Canada’s role in creating change.

As part of MCIC’s Voices for Change project, they performed Fight for Home, a spoken word piece about displacement, resilience, and belonging. Their words carried raw emotion, shaped by lived experiences of war, loss, and identity.

The performance featured two refugee students from the Winnipeg School Division, Ali and Tetiana. Ali fled war in Syria, and Tetiana escaped conflict in Ukraine, sharing their experiences of displacement and resilience. It also included two Indigenous students from the River East Transcona School Division, Linnaya and Merek, who spoke about their identity, history, and connection to land.

“This project gave youth the space to explore their stories, hear each other, and find common ground,” said Damat Zagros, who leads a leadership program at Aurora Family Therapy Center. “As someone who works closely with youth from both Indigenous and newcomer communities, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful storytelling can be in building connections and fostering understanding. These students brought so much heart and honesty to their writing—it was an honour to witness their journey.”

Spoken word artist and educator Steve Locke, who has been part of this annual program for over a decade, shared his pride in the students.“This group showed so much heart, bravery, and openness in writing on the topic of displacement,” he said. “Now it’s time for the audience to hear them and be inspired.”

The performance was more than poetry—it was a moment of truth, strength, and connection. The room fell silent as their words resonated, leaving a lasting impact on everyone present.

Watch the full video here.