On Common Ground: How Refugee Women Are Redefining Belonging in the Outdoors
At Refugee Women’s Network, we believe in the power of movement—not just forward, but together. Since 2021, our Outdoor Wellness Program has taken refugee and immigrant women to Georgia’s forests, rivers, and mountains, offering far more than recreation. These hikes, bike rides, paddling trips, and swims have become acts of community-building, confidence, and healing.
The women who walk these trails with us come from Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, Mexico, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more. Many have fled war, persecution, or instability. Some arrived here knowing no one. Others came with young children and few resources. Nearly all carry stories of loss—but also of resilience. When they gather on a trail, language barriers fade. What remains is the rhythm of footsteps, the sound of laughter, the quiet bond formed under a canopy of trees. This is where we meet one another—not in difference, but in dignity.
The Beginning of a Movement
The Outdoor Wellness Program began with a simple question: “What would it take for refugee women to feel a true sense of belonging—and capability—in the outdoors?” What started as a few Saturday walks in local parks has grown into a statewide movement, helping women who once felt invisible in these spaces move through them with confidence, joy, and a growing sense of ownership. Now, many are stepping into leadership—organizing hikes, mentoring peers, and reshaping what the face of outdoor recreation can be.
Since 2021, more than 325 refugee and immigrant women have hiked over 130 miles, climbed more than 18,000 feet, and paddled, biked, and swam their way to belonging. We’ve partnered with REI, Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, YMCA, state and national parks, and many others to make these moments possible. Through swimming lessons, Action Track Wheelchair-assisted hikes, campouts and annual service projects, women have redefined what the outdoors means to them—and what it can mean for us all.
Transformative Impact
We can quantify the impact that Refugee Women’s Network has: The data speaks volumes. At the completion of the 2025 program, 50% more women reported satisfaction with their physical health. Reports of high stress dropped by 30%, while feelings of energy, confidence, and belonging surged. And perhaps most powerfully, the number of women who said, “I feel strong,” more than doubled from 42% to 92%.
These aren’t just statistics, they’re stories of transformation. It takes courage to complete a first swim, first bike ride, or first night around a campfire. These are brave women who weren’t allowed to ride bikes in their home country, who once stayed home out of fear or isolation, who now lead bike rides, organize peer groups, and tell their stories in front of audiences. They’re mothers showing their children that nature is theirs too.
Nature as a Common Language
What makes this program work? It’s not just the gear, the transportation, or the beautiful Georgia trails. It’s the belief that nature is a universal language, a space where difference doesn’t divide, but deepens connection. We’ve seen women who speak no common language share lunch on a summit, help each other tie hiking boots, and cheer as one of them reaches the campsite for the first time. These shared experiences build a sense of safety and sisterhood that few other spaces can offer.
As one participant shared, “When I’m on the trail, I don’t feel like a refugee. I feel like a human again.”
Our outdoor events are guided—sometimes by a park ranger or naturalist, sometimes by someone like me who knows the paths by heart. We aim to include outdoor leaders who are people of color or of an immigrant background, ensuring participants see themselves in the leaders and feel each outing as an invitation to learn, to feel strong, and to feel at home.
With this intention and community, the outdoors becomes more than a backdrop, it becomes the bridge.
A Message for the American Outdoor Community
If you’re reading this as an Oboz supporter or lifelong hiker, this part is for you.
You already know the power of a good trail—the way it can clear your mind, strengthen your body, and bring joy into even the toughest days. Now imagine what that trail feels like to a woman who crossed oceans to start over. To a woman who’s been told that parks aren’t “for people like her.”
What I’ve learned is that opening the outdoors to more people doesn’t take anything away from my experience…—it makes it richer. When we make space for others to feel safe and seen on the trail, we all gain. We gain community. We gain stories. We gain the knowledge that the land can hold more than our solitude—it can hold our solidarity.
Diversity in the outdoors isn’t charity. It’s not a trend. It’s the key to a deeper, more meaningful outdoor culture. When we hike with someone different from us, we stretch—not just our legs, but our hearts. And when we do that over and over again, something changes. The trail changes. We change.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, Refugee Women’s Network will expand the Outdoor Wellness Program to include youth programming, Wilderness First Aid training, and peer-led outdoor leadership tracks. Our vision is clear: refugee women not just participating in the outdoors, but guiding others into it.
We’ll keep paddling, swimming, and climbing. We’ll keep showing up in parks where we once felt invisible. And we’ll keep inviting others—like you—to walk beside us.
About RWN
Refugee Women’s Network (RWN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Georgia and founded by refugee women, for refugee women. We equip immigrant and refugee women to achieve self-sufficiency and leadership through culturally tailored programs in economic empowerment, social adjustment, and community wellness. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped thousands of women reclaim power, build community, and lead with pride.
Final Thoughts
We often say at RWN: this isn’t just exercise—it’s movement-building. Every shared mile, every riverside conversation, every first step is part of something bigger.
So to all of you reading: next time you hit the trail, ask yourself: Who’s not here? And then ask: What can I do to change that?
Because the truth is, when we meet each other on common ground, we don’t just improve the outdoors. We improve the world.
RWN is grateful to Oboz for supporting the Outdoor Wellness Program and we welcome your support as well. www.riwn.org
