Mevan Babbakar, a 29-year-old woman living in London, pleaded with followers on the internet to help her find the man who gifted her a bike when she was a five-year-old refugee. She lived in a refugee camp near Zwolle in the Netherlands for five years during the 1990s.
Hi internet, this is a longshot BUT I was a refugee for 5 yrs in the 90s and this man, who worked at a refugee camp near Zwolle in the Netherlands, out of the kindness of his own heart bought me a bike. My five year old heart exploded with joy. I just want to know his name. Help? pic.twitter.com/XzUgHzllYb
— Mevan | میڤان (@MeAndVan) August 12, 2019
Mevan and her family fled Iraq during the gulf war and ended up in a refugee camp in the Netherlands before settling in London.
For those wondering here what five year old Mevan looked like. This was my fifth birthday in the refugee camp in Zwolle. She doesn't even know that an incredible bike is coming her way aaaany day now! pic.twitter.com/caZ6NGFh55
— Mevan | میڤان (@MeAndVan) August 12, 2019
The message spread quickly and had over 3000 retweets within a day. A local newspaper from the Zwolle municipality also picked up the story which helped spread the news
De weldoener die de Koerdische Mevan Babakar -destijds 5 jaar- een rode fiets gaf in het Zwolse azc, lijkt gevonden, mogelijk volgt later vandaag een ontmoeting. https://t.co/MCVOqVaYMy pic.twitter.com/Dnv95kVXlt
— De Stentor (@De_Stentor) August 13, 2019
The willingness of strangers to help sure does reinstate hope in humanity.
My dad worked in several refugee camps right around that time but unfortunately he's not around anymore. But I'll give it a RT for sure. Hopefully someone recognizes him.
— Léon (@MOTTENZEDAN) August 12, 2019
Mevan told the BBC “There was so much hardship at that point in our lives and this was such a generous act, it taught me kindness can exist everywhere, no matter how terrible it may seem.”
They were reunited!
Not only did I find him, but I've also had other refugees reach out to me and tell me that him and his wife helped them too! Their kindness has touched so many lives. One woman said "they weren't friends to me, they were family"https://t.co/xMFJiiwktp
— Mevan | میڤان (@MeAndVan) August 13, 2019
“This gives me hope”
She will meet him in person later today and in the meantime is still spreading inspiring messages on Twitter.
Thank you! More than anything children growing up as refugees need patience, love, reassurance that they are safe and opportunities to grow beyond what they've been through. To be honest, what child doesn't need this? We should be striving to provide that for everyone. https://t.co/ohENPkASDI
— Mevan | میڤان (@MeAndVan) August 13, 2019
Featured image source: Skitterphoto on Pixabay
