The Future: Exploring the Experiences of Refugees Across the Globe (Part 3)

Posted by Thelmany Khieu on June 16, 2014.

World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20. It is a special day when the world takes time to recognize the resilience of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. This is a three part series written to celebrate and learn more about the “Past, Present, and Future” of refugees worldwide.

Part 1– The Past | Part 2 — The Present | Part 3 — The Future

The Future
by Thelmany Khieu

Practice empathy by taking a moment to consider what it would feel like if you were suddenly forced to flee from your home. What would you do? Where would you go? What would you bring? In the spirit of World Refugee Day, consider taking the opportunity to support the incredible individuals of the world who face their uncertain futures boldly and courageously.

Learn more:

Check out “Voices of African Women in Denver,” a video project in which women from South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Ghana, and Morocco share their own stories about what life is like living in Denver, Colorado.
Check out the UNHCR’s “Featured Refugees” page for an assortment of media stories on refugees around the world.
Find World Refugee Day events in your local area.

Raise awareness:

Change your Twitter/Facebook photo to a Blue Key on Friday, June 20^thfor The Blue Key Campaign, a UNHCR initiative aiming to unlock a better future for refugees around the world.
Join the UNHCR’s Thunderclap campaign for World Refugee Day 2014
Text REFUGEES to 50555 to donate $10 to the USA UNHCR, The UN refugee agency.
Participate in the #WorldRefugeeDay Tweetathon on Friday June 20^th
Share videos featuring celebrities, world leaders, writers, and other individuals discussing “The Most Urgent Story of Our Time.” A few highlight videos:
- UNICEF Ambassador Ewan McGregor tells the story of Wiam, a 12 year old Syrian refugee
- Emma Thompson & her son Tindy Agaba discuss family (Tindy came to the UK as a refugee from Rwanda)
- Khaled Hosseini tells the story of Payman, an aspiring writer and Syrian refugee in northern Iraq
- Kristin Davis tells Dadaab refugee story

Support organizations that empower refugees:

Give to any of the international organizations below — all are directly eligible with CAF America. Click on the organization name to learn more and make a gift.

Asylum Aid (UK) — an independent, national charity working to secure protection for people seeking refuge in the UK from persecution and human rights abuses abroad.
Australia for UNHCR (Australia) — raises funds from the private sector to support UNHCR’s international humanitarian activities for the relief and protection of refugees. It also undertakes public awareness activity around the plight of refugees.
Fundación Rafael Hernández Villar IBP (Institucion de Beneficencia Privada) (Mexico) — provides asylum to orphans and supports education through their childhood.
Hanlon Centre (UK) — provides services for refugees and asylum seekers, the mentally ill, and youth.
Lessons with Love (UK-based) — Supports Beit Jibrin (Azza) Refugee Camp, a Palestinian refugee camp located in the city of Bethlehem, including the advancement of education; the relief of need; and the provision of recreation facilities for youth.
ONG RESCATE Internacional (Spain) — works on behalf of refugees, displaced people, and communities or victims of oppression, armed conflicts, and big political and social crisis with special attention to children and women.
Polish Humanitarian Action (Poland) — works with communities suffering from natural disasters, armed conflicts, persecution and long-lasting poverty in order to ensure their rights to life and health, to water and adequate sanity conditions, to food, to education, to living in proper conditions, securing life and health during natural disasters and armed conflicts. The organization has a special focus on “sensitive” groups, including children, women, the disabled, refugees, repatriates and IDPs.
Refugee Council (UK) — the largest organization in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. It not only gives direct help and support, but also works with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.
Refugee and Migrant Justice (UK) — provides legal help and representation to asylum seekers and other migrants in the UK seeking leave to remain.
Tibet Relief Fund of the United Kingdom (UK-based) — supports Tibetan refugees and Tibetan inside Tibet. Projects focus on education, healthcare, youth employment, and community building. The TRF also runs a scholarship program whereby individuals sponser the education of Tibetian individuals.
Tibetan Homes Foundation (India) — dedicated to working for the care of orphan, semi-orphan and destitute Tibetan refugee children in India.
Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (Australia) — represents immigrant refugee women’s organisations across Victoria, Australia. The coalition provides representation, capacity building support and advice for a range of organisations whose priority is the development and support of refugee women.

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