On June 29th, 2023, 30-year-old Barthelemy arrived in Akron, Ohio, from Zimbabwe after residing in the country for 11 years as a refugee. Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the city of Lubumbashi, Barthelemy conducted journalistic work and pursued academic studies before fleeing his home country in 2012. Fluent in French, Swahili, Lingala, English, and a local language from Zimbabwe, Barthelemy’s linguistic skills reflect his diverse background and experiences.
During his time in Zimbabwe, Barthelemy was deeply involved in social justice organizations for refugees, particularly those led by refugees themselves. He quickly rose to the position of secretary in the organization Youth Mobilizers, focusing on topics such as climate change in refugee camps, cultural diversity among refugees, and the rights of refugees.
Barthelemy later founded an organization called Youth Mental Health Promoters, serving as its president, to assist young refugees in adapting to their new lives in the Zimbabwean camp. Barthelemy became the refugee youth leader, leading over 5,000 youth. Additionally, he worked as a childcare worker at the camp and assisted the camp’s office with cases concerning domestic abuse. He actively participated in various refugee-led programs, including Engaging Men and Boys Through Accountable Practices to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Against Women (EMAP) and the Global Refugee Network. He managed to secure funding for five different refugee organizations at the camp.
Recognized for his leadership and service, Barthelemy was nominated as delegate and co-chair of the UNHCR Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC), making appearances at various UN-led conferences in Geneva. He also attended various other UNHCR events, including the 2022 World Refugee Commemoration in South Africa, the 2023 UNHCR Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, and the 2023 SDG Summit in New York.
Since arriving in Akron, Barthelemy had been resettled by IIA, and IIA’s legal team assisted him in acquiring travel documents to participate in more global conferences concerning social justice for refugees. Currently, he is working with the Global Refugee Youth Network. This refugee youth-led organization supports young refugees in developing their capacity to help each other, leading initiatives to respond to their community's needs, and advocating for change that they feel is important for them and their communities. In addition to working with the Global Refugee Youth Network, Barthelemy gives back to his local community as an ESL instructor and Bus Trainer at IIA.
Barthelemy has always been passionate about social justice advocacy, a passion that was ignited in him while living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His ultimate goal is to become a journalist while continuing to advocate for social justice. He encourages all refugees not to limit themselves and to share their unique skills with others to contribute to the development of society. As he puts it, “If you have talents, showcase them so they can contribute to the awesome development of the United States.”
