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Do just ONE thing: World Refugee Day
Today is World Refugee Day, and the message that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has for the world is this: ONE THING. Do just one thing to help people who are refugees. That one thing might be to learn something new about refugees.
Visit the UNHCR webpage DO 1 THING and make a choice to help by learning, spreading the word, or giving. I visited the website and in the section “learning,” I tried the Against All Odds game on the UNHCR website as a way to learn more. The game lets you experience what it is like to be a refugee. While I knew it was not going to be a “fun” game, I was not prepared for how horrible it feels … and this is just a game.
It’s important to that we all know the basics. I found it so helpful, for example, to talk with our Ask Sister guest, Eilis McCulloh, about her experience volunteering with the Franciscans and collaborating with the Lutheran’s ministry to help resettle refugees (see AS075 … audio download will be up by tomorrow but for now you can watch/listen to the video). Here are some basics that we should all know:
- what is a refugee or displaced person?
- why are they forced to flee their homes?
- what happens to their family, community, possessions?
- what options do they have?
- what does resettlement mean?
- why should I care?
Here are some places to explore answer to these questions:
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Jesuit Refugee Service
- World Church Service
- Catholic Diocese of Arlington
- Catholic Relief Services
- International Rescue Committee
What other sources of information or ways to do ONE THING would you recommend?
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This is an issue dear to my heart since I live in a community where there are a lot of undocumented immigrants. I have written about this a number of times on my blog (not recently, but here’s a link to the first one – look at others in 2008 on the same topic – they can be found on the lower right hand corner of the page): http://marshawest.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-first-post.html
I have written there recently; instead I regularly “share” articles on this topic on FB. You will see them on my profile page if we are friends there. I use FB as my little plot of Hyde Park (London) where I keep my soapbox and banners. At my time in life, sharing the information about justice and compassion for immigrants is one way I can help.
I also do what I can to assist immigrants in my own community by pointing them to resources. Our Archdiocese sometimes is able to help.
I try to remind people I know that protecting the “stranger” among us is a gospel imperative.
ooops. meant to say I HAVEN’T written there recently (on my blog) but share ideas on FB now.
Thanks for posting this Sr. Julie! Yesterday we had a local World Refugee Day celebration and had a chance to hear the stories of three people as well as honor community members who help us. One of the people we honored is a Somali woman who works as a medical interpreter. I know first hand what an amazing woman she is. She mentioned the phrase “It takes a village…” She’s right. She also urged people to become involved in the community and the refugee resettlement process. Many cities across the US (and in other countries) have refugee resettlement agencies. The resettlement agencies are organizations like Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and many others. They can always use volunteers! I’d suggest to anyone interested in getting involved to look up resettlement agencies in their area and see if they are looking for volunteers.