The Bicycle: A Story of Kindness and Resilience 

Random Acts of Kindness Day, on February 17th, highlights the impact of simple acts of compassion.

We spoke to former UK for UNHCR trustee Mevan Babakar about her new children’s book The Bicycle, released in the UK on February 13th, and how one kind act changed her life as a young refugee.

What inspired you to write this book now?

“The importance of hope and kindness is a theme that resonates deeply with me. I fled Kurdistan, Iraq, in the early 90s, as a result of Saddam’s genocide of the Kurds. We went on a five-year journey through multiple countries to find safety, and when I look back, I can feel the value of kindness during challenging times. The Bicycle shows how even small acts of generosity can make a profound difference to someone for the rest of their life, especially during hardship.”

Credit: © Yas Imamura

Why did you choose to tell this story as a children’s book?

“This is a story best told through the eyes of a child. The simplicity and directness of children’s literature allows young readers to truly experience the emotional journey of a refugee child and understand the profound impact of a simple act of kindness. It invites them to see themselves in the story, and to understand that we all have the capacity to be kind, wherever we are.”

What do you hope young readers take away from it?

“I want young readers to appreciate the shared humanity that connects us all, regardless of background or circumstance. Ultimately, the book is an invitation to reach out to others, and to understand that even simple gestures can bring profound impact to someone’s life.”

The book is based on your own childhood—how did that act of kindness shape your experience as a refugee?

“At five years old, as a refugee, I felt very vulnerable and more and more invisible. The gift of a bicycle from an aid worker named Egbert at a refugee camp in the Netherlands provided a moment of normality and hope. It gave me permission to be a child, it gave me permission for joy. As an adult, I’ve reflected on the many acts of kindness that helped my family and I get to safety. Whether it was a pot of nail varnish, a coat, some shoes, a room for the night or a bar of chocolate, these small and sometimes large gestures were what bound us to each other and kept us going.”

What was the most rewarding part of writing this book?

“The most rewarding part was seeing my personal story come full circle. From the initial act of kindness, through retracing my journey and reconnecting with Egbert 25 years later to say thank you, to finally sharing it with the world as a children’s book and seeing the impact it’s having in classrooms and at bedtimes! It’s been an incredible journey of reflection and connection.”

“Some of my favourite reviews have been from kids, for example, Noah aged 6, wrote a brilliant review where he said “I really, really loved this book… I have a few friends who are refugees from Ukraine and it made me think about them and how hard it must have been for them to leave their home… My Mummy and I talked about how one simple act of kindness can change a person’s life. I hope I can continue to be this kind when I am a grown up.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by UK for UNHCR (@unrefugeesuk)

What’s one thing you realised when writing this book?

“Writing this book made me believe more than ever that stories can change the world. And the more we share our stories the better.

Storytelling has the power to bridge divides and foster empathy. The Bicycle is a personal story, but it speaks to universal experiences of displacement, resilience and the transformative power of kindness. I hope it helps parents and young readers connect with the refugee experience. But I hope it encourages more stories too! The more voices we have sharing their lived experiences, the richer we all are for it.”

Anything else you’d like to share?

“Seeing as its random acts of kindness day, I encourage you to celebrate it by thinking about one kind thing you can do today?

And if you’re at a loss, here are some of my favourites:

(1) say thank you to someone who has done something meaningful for you, tell them how it helped you and how it made you feel. For bonus points do it with food!

(2) give someone a compliment, if you like their style or something they said – tell them! And finally

(3) pay it forward – pay a little bit extra in the coffee queue and buy the person behind you a coffee, or better yet, coffee shops like Social Bite or Second Shot Coffee allow you to donate it to someone in need.”

The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, with illustrations by Yas Imamura, is out now, published by Farshore.