Junior Mayema on this first day in San Francisco

The Guardian Group’s most recently arrived refugee is an activist.  Unlike the other men we’re helping, Junior is open with his identity and story.

The other asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees we’ve met have had concerns about revealing their identity.  Some are not out to their family and friends back in their home country. Others fear reprisal against their families if the family’s neighbors found out that one of the children is gay.  And, some simply want privacy.

Junior Mayema, on the other hand, gains strength from sharing his identity and story. He is articulate and intelligent, and he quickly gets animated when he talks about human rights.

Earlier today Junior started a new blog and created his first posts.  “The Story of My Life in Three Major Articles” is particularly courageous.  And, that entry’s link to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ article on Junior is both chilling and inspiring.

We are going to follow Junior’s blog!