About Us

Who We Are

Waves to Home is a global storytelling movement for those who have been forced to leave their homes and their lives behind. As a non-profit association based in Switzerland, we provide safe spaces for refugees, migrants, displaced, and Indigenous people to reclaim their narratives, find inner strength through the power of their stories, and inspire the world with their resilience.

At Waves to Home, we believe that storytelling is not just about telling the past, it’s about reshaping the future. By reframing the stories we tell ourselves, we transform pain into power, shame into pride, and victimhood into warriorhood. We follow a journey from inner storytelling, the stories we tell ourselves, to outer storytelling, the stories we share with the world, and ultimately to impact storytelling, using our narratives as peaceful weapons to challenge injustice, build peace, and spark collective healing.

We are warriors finding our way home, using our words, wisdom, and resilience to make a difference. In every story shared, we create ripples of hope, healing, and connection. Together, we are ending cycles of silence and violence and creating new cycles of life, love, and peace.

Join us on this journey of hope. Let’s create a world where peace leads, stories heal, and every voice is seen, heard, and honored.

Our Story

Founding story

One evening in September, during a summit in Manchester, a group of young leaders from refugee backgrounds sat in a circle and began sharing their stories. In that sharing circle, a space that became a safe haven, we opened up, sharing our hopes, struggles, and our definitions of home. We felt a deep connection. We were all moved, all inspired. We felt the power of collective storytelling, and we could feel ourselves setting free. It was liberating.

Zoya Miari saw immense power in bringing these stories, stories that carry so much pain, pain that is often left unexpressed, unheard, unseen, into the light. From that sharing circle at the summit, a whole movement was born. These young leaders, deeply connected and moved, decided to bring the power and magic of these safe spaces to other refugees, migrants, displaced people, Indigenous communities, and to every human forced to leave their home behind. Together, we chose to use our pain in a meaningful way: to change the stories of the world by first changing our own stories, collectively.

Feeling inspired? Explore how you can join

For Individuals

We’re a global movement, and you can get involved from anywhere in the world by sharing your story, referring someone’s story, joining as a volunteer, or creating your own community project. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more

Curious for More Stories?

Discover our collection of stories from across the globe. We don’t tell these stories; we provide a platform where everyone can be seen and heard to uncover their own story and share it with the world, the way they want

For Organizations

We work with organizations, foundations, grassroots groups, and the private sector. Get in touch, and let’s create storytelling magic through tailored, innovative programs co-designed together. Contact us to explore possibilities

Interested in Our Events?

Explore gatherings that bring stories to life. Our events aren’t just sessions or workshops, they’re shared spaces where people connect, reflect, and create together. We design it with them, offering a platform where every voice shapes the moment.