The Art of Healing: How Kintsugi Reflects the Resilience of Refugees Rebuilding Their Lives
World Refugee Day Special
Every year, millions of people around the world are forced to leave behind their homes, communities, and livelihoods due to conflict, violence, persecution, or natural disasters. While displacement often brings immense hardship and uncertainty, stories of resilience continue to emerge from those who find the strength to rebuild their lives. On World Refugee Day, the Japanese art of kintsugi offers a powerful metaphor for understanding this journey of recovery and renewal.
Kintsugi, which translates as “golden joinery,” is a centuries-old Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with precious metals such as gold. Rather than hiding cracks and imperfections, the technique highlights them, transforming damage into part of the object’s unique history and beauty.
The philosophy behind kintsugi resonates deeply with the experiences of refugees and displaced families. Like a broken ceramic vessel, people who have endured conflict, displacement, and loss often carry visible and invisible scars. Yet these experiences do not define them solely through suffering. Instead, many emerge stronger, more determined, and more capable of shaping a hopeful future.
This message was reflected in the experiences of Afghan families who have returned to rebuild their lives after years of uncertainty. Despite facing economic challenges, damaged infrastructure, and limited opportunities, many families continue to invest in their communities, support their children’s education, and restore a sense of normalcy to everyday life.
For displaced individuals, recovery is rarely a simple return to what existed before. Homes may need to be reconstructed, livelihoods re-established, and communities reconnected. The process often requires patience, perseverance, and support from governments, humanitarian organizations, and local communities.
Experts working in refugee assistance emphasize that resilience is not merely the ability to endure hardship. It is the capacity to adapt, recover, and create new opportunities despite adversity. In this sense, the concept mirrors the essence of kintsugi, where repair becomes a symbol of strength rather than weakness.
Across Afghanistan and many other regions affected by displacement, families are demonstrating remarkable determination. Parents are working to secure better futures for their children, entrepreneurs are reopening businesses, and communities are rebuilding social networks that were disrupted by years of conflict.
World Refugee Day serves as a reminder that behind global statistics are individual stories of courage and hope. While humanitarian support remains essential, recognizing the dignity, skills, and aspirations of displaced people is equally important. Refugees are not merely survivors of crises; they are active participants in rebuilding societies and contributing to their communities.
The lessons of kintsugi suggest that recovery does not mean erasing the past. Instead, it involves acknowledging challenges, learning from them, and moving forward with renewed strength. The golden seams in repaired pottery tell a story of endurance, just as the journeys of refugees reflect the power of human resilience.
As the world marks World Refugee Day, the symbolism of kintsugi offers an inspiring perspective: brokenness does not end a story. With support, determination, and hope, it can become the beginning of a new chapter—one marked not by loss alone, but by recovery, growth, and transformation.
