We are proud to announce our annual ceremony for our Arizona contestants will take place on Thursday, October 1, startating at 1:35 pm at Alhambra High School at 3839 West Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona.
Our winners are:
First Place Sami Abdul Fattah Assadi Award will be presented to Anna Nagaheba originally from Tanzania. Anna will receive her monetary award and the Safed House video based on her winning essay will be shown.
Second Place: Zakia Zahidi from Afghanistan will be presented with her monetary award and we will see the Safed House video based on her winning essay.
At this ceremony, the contest for our next year 2026-2027 will open and the rules will be announced.
For nine years, we have conducted this contest with refugees and immigrants in Arizona. In 2026, we will also will launch our first New York City contest, creating a space where refugee youth can share their diaspora stories, build resilience, and be truly seen by Americans who may not yet understand the lived realities of displacement. The New York City activity will take place at a future time to be determined.
Please see our contest page for more details on the upcoming contest https://safedhouse.com/annual-essay-contest/
Safed House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a welcoming space for refugees and recent immigrants to share their stories and find their voice within the American tapestry. Founded in 2017, Safed House offers a culturally sensitive environment where storytelling becomes a path to healing, resilience, and connection.
For more information contact:
safedhouse@gmail.com or call 480 510 4881
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