Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival
A Dream Called Khushi (Happiness)
Thursday, September 11
6:30pm - 8:15pm
Old Post Office
Riverview RoomA Rohingya girl fights for her right to education in the world’s largest refugee camp. Dreaming of a life in Canada, where she can study, will she be the one in a million to break free?
A Dream Called Khushi (Happiness)
Khushi, 24, is one of more than a million Rohingya refugees living in Southern Bangladesh. Rohingya are a persecuted minority ethnic group who have fled from Myanmar, where they faced multiple genocides from the majority-Buddhist military junta. Khushi believed education was the only solution to help her community.But Rohingya refugees aren’t allowed to study in Bangladesh. Like other Rohingya, Khushi had to hide her identity and forge papers to get into school. Later, she faced heat when her identity was exposed on social media. The Bangladeshi host community saw her educational pursuit as an illegal attempt to assimilate into the Bangladeshi society. She was suspended from college for being Rohingya. But she never gave up.
This film won both a 2024 student Oscar (Bronze) and the 2025 Student Emmy.
Today, Rahima Khushi, who is featured in the film resides in Waterloo and works at the Reception House.
About the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival
Each year, the Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership and its member organizations come together to share films in the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival. The goal of this festival is to capture the promise and challenges of migration, celebrate the contributions that migrants make to their new communities, and to help our community better understand the challenges our newcomer neighbours overcome as they make our region our home.
Accessibility
If you require an accessibility accommodation for this program or event, please tell us how we can meet your needs as soon as possible so arrangements can be organized. If you require a sign language interpreter, please let us know at least two-weeks (10 working weekdays) before the program date.
If you are attending a registered program with a support person, please add your support worker as a guest when you sign up.
COST: Free
Old Post Office
The Old Post Office is an award-winning, all-digital public library, offering breathtaking views of the Grand River and free technology programs for all ages. Each floor in this restored heritage building offers a unique area of exploration, including the Creative Studios, Children’s Discovery Centre, Makerspace, and Riverview Reading Room.
Cambridge Public Library supports and inspires its community to explore reading, the arts, innovation, and lifelong learning across five locations and online.