Internationally acclaimed Albanian singer Rita Ora has joined the Evening Standard’s winter campaign to support refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and those facing food insecurity in London—some of the most vulnerable groups in the UK capital.
The campaign is also backed by Comic Relief, which has pledged £500,000 (€566,000) to launch the initiative.
In her interview with the Evening Standard, Rita shares her family’s story and her personal experience as a refugee who fled Kosovo as a child to seek safety in the United Kingdom. She explains that this experience deeply shaped her identity.
“Growing up as a refugee child formed everything about who I am,” Rita said. “When my parents fled Kosovo to escape the persecution of Albanians, they left everything behind for safety and a new beginning in the United Kingdom. They had to rebuild their lives from scratch—my mother was a psychiatrist in Kosovo, but when we arrived in the UK, she had to learn English and retrain. My father worked long nights to secure our future. Their courage built the foundation for my entire life, and music became my refuge.”
Rita also highlights the importance of the hospitality and support her family received during their difficult early years in the UK.
“The people who welcomed us made us feel accepted and part of something bigger, and that kindness has always stayed with me. It taught me that feeling part of a community isn’t something given—it’s something we build together, through compassion and openness toward others.”
Rita Ora’s interview underscores not only the importance of supporting refugees and the homeless but also the power of personal stories in helping society better understand their challenges and contributions. Rita, who has achieved major international success, is a clear example of how the struggles of childhood can transform into strength and inspiration in adulthood.
In this context, her involvement in the winter campaign aims to ensure that the voices of refugees and homeless people are heard, while also providing concrete support to those in need in London.
