The Weight of a Suitcase: What 120 Seconds Taught KTU Students
- Refugee Council
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
“You have two minutes. Your life as you know it is over. What will you take with you on this journey into exile?”
This was not a hypothetical exercise from a thriller film. On 23 March 2026, twelve engineering students from KTU University in Kaunas took part in the "Journey into Exile" simulation. Led by the Refugee Council of Lithuania and based on the methodology of our partners, Jesuit Refugee Service Canada, this workshop is not intended to teach history, but to help us shed our prejudices.
More than just a number: the human face of displacement
While we often hear talk of "migration flows," the reality is a collection of individual tragedies. By June 2025, the UNHCR recorded 117.3 million people forcibly displaced worldwide.
During the workshop, students took on a new identity: that of an asylum seeker. They were given identity and testimony cards—real stories of women, men, and children—to help them grasp the true weight of the migration journey.
The "Western Dream" is a myth: Only 25% of asylum seekers attempt the dangerous journey to the West. In reality, 73% of the world’s refugees are hosted in low or middle-income countries.
The high cost of "safety": With no legal means of travel, many are forced to pay over €2,000—often their entire savings—to smugglers for a mere chance of survival. This is the daily reality for millions searching for hope.
A life on hold: The "Temporary Trap"
One of the most striking moments was the discussion about the "temporary trap". We often imagine that refugees are merely "passing through," but the data tells a different story:
17 years in limbo: That is the average length of a stay in a refugee camp. Imagine spending nearly two decades in a tent, waiting for a life that may never return to normal.
The Wall of Legal Invisible: For those living in cities, life is a constant struggle against exploitation and high rents. Without legal documentation and recognized status, they are stripped of their right to work safely and exist officially in the eyes of the law.
From passive victims to active partners
The inspiring turning point of the day was seeing the students realize that refugees are not passive victims: they are active agents of change. They are entrepreneurs and community builders who simply need a fair chance.
To bridge this gap, we introduced the "Volunteer Everywhere" (VolEver) app. This tool connects Ukrainian refugees with local mentors for:
Business advice and mentorship.
Language support.
Simple human connection through a cup of coffee and a chat.
It takes just 40 minutes to two hours of training to start helping. You can be the bridge that ends someone’s exile.
A new journey begins
The KTU students left knowing that being a refugee is not a choice, but a necessity for survival. Supporting them is a choice we can all make, at any moment.
Would you like to be the mentor who helps someone turn a "temporary" stay into a fresh start?Download the VolEver app today. Let’s go beyond digital sympathy and focus on making a positive, human impact.
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