Muzgan is in her third year of the introductory program at Forshaga Academy, a school in a small rural village in Sweden. Since arriving in Sweden three years ago, Muzgan has made friends and learned Swedish. Her classmates' efforts to support her have brought the entire class closer together.

The article was a collective effort by the class, and the process was deeply emotional for everyone involved.
– It’s been hard for the class to hear about Muzgan’s experiences—it’s been emotional, says teacher Johan Sköld.

In addition to the article, the class recorded a podcast in which classmate Jakob interviewed Muzgan about the challenges she has faced.

Sharing her story wasn’t easy for Muzgan. Talking about her experiences—especially the loss of her mother while the family stayed in a refugee camp in Greece—was painful.
– It was tough for Muzgan, tough to talk about when her mother died, says Jakob, as Muzgan nods.
– I do like the podcast, but I also feel like I speak bad Swedish, and I worry people might not understand me, she says.

When the class learned they had won the Young Journalist Award, it sparked a wave of excitement in the classroom.
– Within seconds, everyone was calling their relatives to share the news. One of the students, the principal’s daughter, called her dad right away. Their reactions were incredible, Johan recalls.

What do you think the win means for your students?

– It’s hard to grasp how much this means to these students, and maybe to others in similar situations. It shows them they can make a difference—that those who are vulnerable can stand up for others who are even more vulnerable. This is a class of incredibly kind students, many of whom are facing their own challenges, Johan says.

The class has also launched a petition, which has collected 320 signatures so far. The local municipality has joined the cause, writing a letter of support to the Migration Agency. Through this process, the students have learned that their voices can make a difference. Using journalistic methods has been key to their success.
– We’ve learned that if you do thorough groundwork, it’s easier to get others to help. It’s taken patience—both with the writing process and waiting for responses from authorities. But without the journalistic work, it would have been much harder to get the municipality to say, ‘We support this,’ Johan explains.

The support from her classmates and the community has meant the world to Muzgan, and she hopes it will have a real impact on her case.
– I’m happy in Sweden. I’ve made new friends, get to be with my family, and like my school. I hope I get to stay, she says.

Read the awarded article, Muzgan, 20, from Afghanistan to be deported: "I'm scared"