The concept of a refugee has changed dramatically since 2020. It almost lost it stigma since a group of refugees managed through their entrepreneurial earnings and advocacy through the United Nations to build an artificial island in international waters and establish the nation of Humana. They were inspired by the US as a nation of immigrants, and decided to copy its model in accepting all individuals from all backgrounds. Their citizenship test, however, made sure all citizens did not harbor any prejudice against any other individual and vowed to respectfully coexist and participate in the betterment of the world. Their policy was to reject no one, but to rather bring about people, and capitalize on their strengths through careful job placement. They expanded their islands artificially to accommodate the incoming influx of people from around the world. They had a range of expertise from Engineers, doctors, nurses, exiled academics to technical and construction workers. All were considered vital to the sustenance of Humana and hence were granted a basic universal income and healthcare. Humana started off with an endowment from the nations that were impacted by the immigration crisis since 2011, but it soon became self sufficient and became one of the greatest exporters in technology, food and textile products. They also produced ground breaking scholarship in both science and humanities, where scholars were encouraged to conduct research freely as long as it was performed ethically without being constrained by political or economical concerns. Humana is now the size of Australia.
The crime rate is very low in Humana, where citizens' basic needs are met from the beginning of their lives. Hence, prisons in Humana are more like a rehabilitation facility where individuals learn new occupational skills and undergo therapy. Humana, served as a model for many other nations that have been beset for decades by the rise of nationalist movements. It is now sending experts, who were refugees in these nations before, to advise them on how to conciliate and revise their definitions of citizenship and borders.
I was inspired by a team of refugees called Team Hope that participated in a global robotics competition organized by the US-based non-profit first global. The young members of the team did no receive a formal training in Robotics, nor did they have the resources or the backing of a country or even a flag, while all other teams boasted their countries and their education. It was inspirational to see this team participate in this global challenge, despite all the physical and psychological limitations faced by refugees.
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