In the city of El Cajon, there live over 5,000 Syrian refugee and other middle eastern refugee settlers. Their families normally have 6 to 8 children, ranging from toddler-age to twenty-four years old. Children escaped the Syrian civil war with their parents first to neighboring countries like Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan. Several years later, they were displaced again to Europe, the far east, Australia, Canada, or the United States. No one wants to be a refugee nor does one want to be born into a refugee family. 

However these youth are experiencing double plights at an early age without even realizing their situation. Instead of playing on a nice lawn with friends, living in a safe and stable house with parents, and freely enjoying their lives as many children in the world do, these youths have experienced tremendous trauma from the war. Their childhood memories have been loaded with the scary sounds of gunfire and bombs, people’s wailing over death, and the silent sound of constant fear in their exile. Among millions and millions of Syrian refugees, children and youth are those whose internal sufferings along the exile journey are most likely to be overlooked because the humanitarian needs are huge.

This documentary wants to provide a safe space for these refugee youths and encourage them to share their untold stories and dreams through creative ways. Stephen Hawking once said, “So long as you are alive, there is hope.” These young refugees ran away from the war zone with their parents and reached a safer ground. They certainly survived calamity and remain alive, but they also have lost their identities and nationalities at the same time. The exile seems not only to have exhausted their patience but also has added so much uncertainty and deep confusion to their identities and future. However, it is simply touching and inspiring for others to hear their dreams in the future because it is so precious to see that the seeds of hope have been well-kept in their hearts and have not been stolen by the war and the suffering of their early lives.

Protagonists

1. Dlan: 18yr wants to be a music teacher and currently going a special education school in San Jose. (https://youtu.be/mM1NRvIRji0)
2. Hadil: 16yr wants to be a fashion designer, currently has moved New Mexico with her family and her dream looks like is postponed. (https://youtu.be/t_9vLc6a5eY)
3. Hamzeh: 14yr wants to be a filmmaker and video editor and currently hopes to have a desktop at home to practice his editing skill.

Supporting characters:

• Yosef: 16yr  wants to be a computer programer (https://youtu.be/1zZeK0YmLfI)
• Raghed: 20yr wants to be a pediatrician
• Shilan: 13yr  wants to be a history teach, or maybe a photographer (https://youtu.be/FPXwEDZL9WU) 
• Dilbert: 14yr wants to be a flight attendant

The Syrian newcomers’ community is very communal. They like to share food and singing and dancing together whenever they can. 

Meet our team

Karen Zhang, director & producer of Sound Of Color, is experienced in producing and directing live events, community television programs, and fundraising videos for variable community groups. She founded Hummingbird Global Media. With a broad education background in film, new media, marketing, and art & theology, Karen loves traveling and being inspired by different cultures. She is passionate to transform lives through sharing inspiring stories of hope.

Justin Wang, videographer & assistant editor of Sound Of Color, is filmmaker.

Sarah Chen, is the illustrator & animator of Sound Of Color.

Assistant videographers: Jonathan Yeh, Brittani Hom, Fang Zhang, Susan Tan