Global pop star Rita Ora has joined the Evening Standard’s winter charity campaign, supporting refugees, people experiencing homelessness and families facing food insecurity in London. The initiative is also backed by Comic Relief, which has contributed £500,000 to the cause.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Rita opened up about her childhood as a refugee from Kosovo, explaining how that experience shaped her identity and her path in life.
“Growing up as a refugee child formed everything about who I am,” she said, recalling the moment her family fled Kosovo to escape persecution against Albanians. She described how her parents were forced to rebuild their lives from scratch after arriving in the United Kingdom. Her mother, who had worked as a psychiatrist in Kosovo, had to learn English and retrain, while her father worked night shifts to secure a stable future for the family.
“Their courage built the foundation of my life. Music became my safe place,” Rita shared.
The singer also expressed deep gratitude for the kindness her family received during difficult times, emphasizing how those early experiences shaped her understanding of community.
“The people who welcomed us made us feel accepted and part of something bigger. That kindness has stayed with me forever. It taught me that community is built through compassion and openness to others,” she said.
Through her involvement in the Evening Standard campaign, Rita Ora hopes to give back to the city that gave her family a chance to rebuild and to inspire others to show the same generosity to those in need.
