Voices of Resilience: A Conversation with Heidy Quah
June 2020 – For World Refugee Awareness Month, Global Freedom Exchange Fellow Heidy Quah, the founder and director of non-profit Refuge for the Refugees, had a conversation with Vital Voices President and CEO Alyse Nelson about supporting Malaysian refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heidy has worked with refugees for the past 10 years and oversees her organization to raise awareness about the status of Malaysian refugees and provide education for 
refugee children.
Heidy and Alyse discussed the unique ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected refugees and increased the pressure of supporting this vulnerable population – as stay at home orders and travel restrictions limit movement and access to critical resources. Heidy and her organization have supported refugees in multiple ways, from coordinating thousands of pounds of food delivery to supporting survivors of gender-based violence and exploitation by finding emergency shelters and much more. She also shared what keeps her going with such taxing work during difficult times and how taking care of your mental health is vital to being a leader.
Listen to her episode here: