World Refugee Day – June 20^th

According to the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are 15.2 million refugees.  A refugee is a person who has a well-founded fear of persecution in his or her country of origin because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Since 1975, the U.S. has resettled approximately 2.6 million refugees.  Refugees legally enter the United States in search of freedom, peace, and opportunity for themselves and their families.  

They are different from economic migrants.  Refugees need a safe haven where they can recover from trauma and rebuild their lives.  They left their own countries because of intolerance but when settling in new countries, they sometimes encounter intolerance and misunderstanding as well.  We should extend refugees the same type of welcome as we would like to receive if we were in their position.  Your club can help refugees in the U.S. and abroad through the Kids Care Clubs Reach Out to Refugee projects.      

You can also celebrate World Refugee Day with the following suggestions from the UNHCR:

Arts and Crafts Fair

Organize an arts and crafts fair at your local library, a park or community center.  Put an advertisement in your local paper to invite people to participate.  A World Refugee Day fair which includes arts and crafts sessions provides an excellent opportunity for refugees and local people to socialize. 

Poster Contest

Posters can be used to publicize World Refugee Day. Invite the kids in your community to submit a poster about refugees.  Ask a store, library or community center to display them.  Select a few local artists or art teachers to judge the posters.  Ask local businesses for prizes - movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, etc.

Concert  

Ask local musicians (including kids) to donate their time to hold a concert to celebrate World Refugee Day. If refugees live in your community include them as musicians and guests at the event. Get permission from your town to hold the concert in a park. Tell families and kids to bring a picnic lunch or dinner. 

Sports Event

Ask your park and recreation department to help you organize softball or soccer games for kids of different ages.  If you have refugees in your community invite them to participate.  When the kids arrive on the field, form the teams at the field. Mix the teams up including refugees and non-refugees on both sides.  Make sure someone is repsonsible for bring the equipment.  Ask local merchants to donate water. 

Be sure to publicize your events in the local newspaper and tell your community why you are celebrating World Refugee Day.

For more information and resources see the Internet Resources in the Reach Out to Refugees Project. 

For more information click on UN World Refugee Day.