World Refugee Day - June 20, 2013

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Today is World Refugee Day. UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) commemorates the strength and resilience of the more than 45 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or natural disaster. Multiple emergencies have forced record numbers of people to flee—yet  the vast majority of media coverage given to the conflicts in Syria, Mali, South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo, rarely focuses on the human cost.

In celebration of World Refugee Day, UNCHR has launched a campaign called the “1 family” campaign to remind the world that the victims of war are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters and that even 1 family torn apart by war is too many. As part of this campaign supporters are encouraged to take a picture of one thing they would take if forced to flee their home. Share a picture and see what items people cherish all over the world on the UNCHR campaign pinterest page.

ProLiteracy has supported refugees for many years—partnering with organizations to start literacy programs in war torn countries such as DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, and Sudan, and even in some refugee camps. Today we are working in our own backyard in the Syracuse area to empower resettled refugees to use skills they may have had in their home countries and apply them here in the United States to start their own business. Syracuse is home to refugees from some 38 countries who have settled in the city. Many have come from Burma (1,857), Bhutan (1,427), and Somalia (1,098). 
Click here to learn more about the work ProLiteracy is doing both domestically and internationally to support refugees and their families through literacy.

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 20, 2013 at 11:06 PM

    Thank you for increasing awareness and the tremendous work you do.

    ReplyDelete

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