Zaatari: Thoughts from a Refugee Camp

In which John visits the Za'atari refugee camp in northern Jordan and talks with refugees there about their hopes, ambitions, fears, and complex lives.

----

[vlogbrothers]

For those asking: This video was indeed uploaded earlier today but then I took it down to edit out a shot where you could see part of someone's face who'd asked not to have their face on film. (Many of the refugees I spoke to asked not to have their faces on film because they worry about family members in Syria being targeted.) Sorry for the reupload, but I hope you enjoy and share the video. Thanks! -John

[noellegonzalez]

I recently did a service project in America where we helped immigrants who had just arrived. We supplied food, water, showers, and clothing. I, personally was assigned to help a mother and a daughter who had just arrived from Guatemala. As I was going through the process, I had walked them to the health clinic and the mother had explained to me how much she had been looking forward to one simple thing, showering. it hadn't really hit me how much I take for granted, and how much just a shower can do for someone. when the mother had gone to shower I was with the daughter helping her find clothes. the daughter would not leave her mother and simply sat down out side the shower facility. the coordinator of the project explained to me that this happens a lot, because of displacement, family is all they have. the girl had only known a world of separation. just thought I'd share this

[elliottmcollins]

Gotta love when John goes into the insightfully husky voice.

[silverharloe]

"Human Nature is not just some force acting upon you. Human Nature is also something we are creating together, as we decide how to treat each other and the world we share." - John Green

[DigitalNinjaVideo]

This series on refugee camps is so moving, far better coverage than what the news is managing.

[minervaalexia]

I find it impossible to watch a video like this and not feel immense empathy for the thousands of refugees suffering, and yet somehow there are people who can watch this and still see find themselves incapable of seeing this refugees as just as human as them. This video both fills me with empathy and warmth for our world... and immeasurable sadness.

[aabbishduaa]

John and Hank are truly a description of what it means to be a good human being.
Bits and pieces of information like these need to be shared, and having people like you two do this is extremely important. Please never stop being the amazing people that you guys are and keep on doing the good work that you do.

[Arnaz]

I love how, even being a refugee camp, it looks so alive, particularly in your last shots.

[ihath]

Some people have the ability to look and see beauty everywhere.

[godlessweaday]

Before the chaos, Syria was a country where school enrollment was 99%. They've lost generations in this war.

[HeroicConcepts]

As a Superhero in training, I really appreciate you sharing this experience.

[TaylorJohnsonvideo]

I love how versatile this channel is. You guys can make a video about anything silly/dumb or incredibly important. Awesome.

[Ashutoshkumar-vgcn]

I just love how john gives his undivided and wholly serious attention to people. You see him sitting with a serious look and clear determination that yes he wants to listen to you, as he listened to them. It's another one of very respected traits in a person i see which is so benign of him to be. He makes kids laugh and them make them hapy and show his affection. I love him seriously !!

[tigersfan]

This was a very very difficult video to watch. It's powerful and sad, and yet still, there's a glimmer of hope and beauty. John, I know this can't be easy for you to make videos like this, but, I'm glad you do. Thank you.

[allisontheresa]

John, I've been watching the vlogbrothers for about four years now. I rarely comment, but I just wanted to say that your videos on the Syrian refugees have been my favorite ones this channel has ever produced, and I view them as some of the most important videos I've ever watched on youtube. You offer such insightful thoughts while also allowing the refugees to share their voices. I can't thank you enough for making these videos, and I hope you'll continue to make videos such as these in the future.

[Rotten_Ralph]

Thank you, thank you for going and seeing, and for helping those who can't see have some empathy. I know for some it's hard not to just see the statistics... But you see each person, each family, and you through what you do, help me to see them too. So thank you Mr Green, whom I follow a lot, thank you for leading me to things that make me strive to be a better person on this earth. In the past I have thanked you on behalf of some sort of community that I'm never sure I belong to. So today realizing that this will most likely be dust in the mad winds of the Internet still want that dust to be there, thank you for the things you do, though you don't know me or have an reason to understand this. Thank you.

[geelongalbatross]

This is the kind of Vlogbrothers video I have always loved. You confront the worst situations with honesty and optimism. Here is where you DFTBA the most. That, and the Batman feud.

[tylerfriesen]

John,
This youtube page is one of the few outlets I have, after graduating college, that inspires me to grow and care for those not in my immediate circle. Thank you for all that you do and for making the world a little better.

[annikastonefieldt]

havent seen a video in a long time that managed to capture the topic in such strong, to the point, concise, intensely moving, apt and beautiful words and clips - very, very well a message we may never stop sharing or we lose forever!

[ulysisxtr]

You and your brother deserve the Nobel prize. Not just because of this video but because you two have done so much to change the world, or at least what is within your grasp to do so.