A documentary titled Strangers Among You by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) explores themes of humanity, compassion, and hope. It puts names and faces to the polarizing headlines surrounding refugees, migrants, and stateless individuals worldwide.
Arjay Arellano, the film’s director, expressed his hope for the documentary’s impact.
“The people you will meet in this film are families, dreamers, and survivors longing for dignity,” Arellano said. “I hope this film opens our eyes, moves our hearts, and reminds us that in God’s kingdom there are no strangers.”
Lebanon: An Unfamiliar Land
The documentary opens in Syria, where a violent civil war since 2011 has forced more than 6.9 million people to flee their homeland. Many now live in neighboring countries like Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon.
In Lebanon, viewers meet a young girl named Israa and her family. After her father was injured by a missile and could no longer work, they fled Syria and now live with 25 others in a modest home. He describes the difficult decision to leave.
“Everything was available to us there,” Israa’s father said. “Here we are strangers.”
To provide for his family, he collects plastic, cardboard, and metal from garbage. Though embarrassed by his work, he does it with dignity—motivated by love and a dream of a better future for his children. Israa aspires to become a doctor or engineer and attends a learning center operated by ADRA Lebanon, as public school strikes disrupt education across the country.
Viewers are introduced to Israa’s mother working hard to create a meal for her family. The director shared with ANN that what transpired off camera will remain in his heart forever.
“I stopped filming because I wanted to give them time to eat together,” Arellano said. “But then they brought a plate for us [the film crew], and since we do not speak the same language, used hand gestures to tell us to eat.”
Colombia: The Caminantes
The film next turns west, across the Atlantic, to Colombia, where “caminantes,” or Venezuelan migrants, walk across parts of Central and South America seeking safety and economic stability after years of political and financial collapse in Venezuela.
Since 2014, more than seven million Venezuelans have left their country. Many travel on foot, facing dangerous terrain and serious threats, including robbery and human trafficking.
“The most vulnerable people are at the highest risk,” an ADRA Colombia worker said.
Despite occasional reports of improved conditions in Venezuela, many returnees find themselves worse off due to severe hunger and malnutrition endured along the journey.
ADRA Colombia offers rest and support for the caminantes in local parks and shelters. One staff member emphasized her belief, “Nobody actually wants to leave home.”
Thailand: The Stateless People
The documentary then moves east to Thailand, where a lack of official identification can determine a person’s fate.
ADRA Thailand worker Araya shares her personal story. Born in a remote mountain village, she was never issued a birth certificate due to her mother’s limited education, resulting in Araya being a stateless person.
A stateless person is someone who lacks documentation or recognition of their nationality. Unfortunately, this lack of citizenship affects access to health care, education, and basic human rights.
Due to this lack of legal rights, nine-year-old Araya was sold for $300 to a bar in the south of Thailand. Her time there was filled with fear and uncertainty.
By the grace of God, Araya was rescued by a woman running a girls’ shelter. She went on to receive an education and now leads ADRA Thailand’s Keep Girls Safe program.
“Every child needs love and care. If they receive that they will be strong in the future,” Araya said.
The film features a young girl whose parents exploited her for labor. After repeated visits by ADRA staff, her father finally allowed her to enter the Keep Girls Safe program, allowing her a chance to learn and enjoy her childhood.
From Ukraine to Poland to Canada
In Poland, the documentary captures the story of Tereza and her two daughters, refugees from the Russia-Ukraine war. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict continues today.
Tereza’s family describes the chaos of fleeing their home with no idea where they would sleep that night.
“Starting wars is awful,” said Tereza’s oldest daughter.
Later in the documentary, Tereza and her daughters are shown to have settled in Vancouver, Canada. Her oldest daughter now works in a restaurant to pay for school and rent, while her mother, who was a doctor in Ukraine, struggles to find work in her profession.
Steve Matthews, director of ADRA Canada, spoke with ANN about the changing perception of refugees in Canadian society.
“We really try to show [the Canadian public] that refugees are real people with real stories,” Matthews said. “Refugees struggle to find their place in a new society, and the woman highlighted, Tereza, is an example of someone with high training not being able to find work.”
He added that political rhetoric has often dehumanized asylum seekers in Western countries.
“They aren’t coming to Canada to live off the system,” Matthews pointed out. “The majority of people I speak with would love to go back home if they could.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a nation rich in natural resources but devastated by decades of violent conflict.
In 2017, a surge in violence displaced more than two million people. Among them was Mahako, an elderly woman whose home was burned to the ground. After the violence subsided, she returned and began farming with other women. Her kindness and determination earned her a leadership role in their community.
Akehil Johnson, who attended the film’s premiere, was deeply moved by Mahako’s resilience.
“They left their villages because of war, but once that was over they returned home and rebuilt their entire lives,” Johnson said. “The strength to grieve and still decide to work hard to rebuild a life is inspiring. Many people I know would easily give up over significantly less hardship.”
An Unscripted Reality
In a world divided by borders and politics, Strangers Among You reminds viewers of a higher calling — to view all humans as worthy of dignity and love.
Filmed between 2022 and 2024, Strangers Among You took shape with the raw, unscripted courage of those willing to share their lives—not to spotlight ADRA but to amplify unheard voices.
“It was unscripted and required a lot from those sharing their stories,” Arellano said. “Anyone can google and learn about ADRA, but these stories are special.”
The film concluded with a live panel discussion featuring Arellano and ADRA leadership. Plans are underway to make the film publicly available.
The final word belongs to one of the mothers featured in the film: “Refugees didn’t come here because they wanted to steal your funds.… No one wants to leave their home.”
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