“A refugee is someone who survived and who can create the future.” ~ Amela Koluder
What are your thoughts on this World Refugee Day? Do you even know a single refugee personally? Are you comfortable/uncomfortable with your country, church, or school being accepting of refugees? If you were to be in a position to assist a single refugee or a refugee family, how would you go about doing that?
As someone who was an immigrant before becoming a Canadian citizen, I understand a lot more about the plight of refugees than the average person. Very often, strangers to a new country have to adjust in various ways to their new surroundings. Both immigrants and refugees have to do that.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” ~ Charles Darwin.
From my own experience as an immigrant, I got the feeling that there were people who were willing to accept me and there were others who somehow felt that immigrants were inferior, ignorant, and backward. Some even felt that immigrants were coming to take their jobs away. As people got to know me and got to know other immigrants as well, there has been a change in their understanding and acceptance of immigrants over the years. Many Canadians know and can see the positive contribution immigrants have made to Canadian society as a whole.
“Canada is a nation of immigrants. “We’ve always had immigration as a key tool for economic growth and nation-building.” ~ Ahmed Hussen, former Immigration Minister
Many people all over the world have the same kinds of feelings about refugees. They are either accepting of them or have a fear and dislike of them. Some people are sympathetic to the plight of refugees and want to help them and others don’t like them or are indifferent towards them. The one difference between immigrants and refugees is related to choice. An immigrant chooses the country they want to live in whereas a refugee often goes to any country where the doors are open to receive them.
“Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more.” ~ Pope Francis
Refugees are anything but weak. To pick up one’s family and leave one’s country to start a new life in another takes courage, physical and emotional strength, and resilience. Many refugees are intelligent and educated persons who are desperate to escape a life of persecution and fear. What they seek the most is safety and a peaceful life.
“No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.” ~
Warsan Shire
The theme for this year’s World Refugee Day is: Together we heal, learn and shine. I like the message of togetherness that is portrayed here. I’m very fortunate to have had the wonderful opportunity of calling several refugees friends. These were both individuals and families. I even volunteered to teach English to refugees at a centre for refugees close to my home. They were just like other people in that they wanted happiness, peace, and acceptance for themselves and their families – a place to live that they could truly call “home.” Being a refugee is not easy. The work of building a new life in a new environment takes courage and guts.
“To be called a refugee is the opposite of an insult; it is a badge of strength, courage, and victory.” ~ Tennessee Office for Refugees
Refugees are a fun bunch. I attended several parties for/by refugees and there was always lots of food and drink. The food was mostly prepared by the refugees themselves and the meal was a smorgasbord of delicacies. They are very talented too and after the meal they would put on a wonderful show with music, dancing, and the like. Because the refugees hailed from different countries, the food and the entertainment were authentic reflections of their culture and background.
“It is the obligation of every person born in a
room to open the door when someone in danger knocks.” ~ Dina Nayeri
The UN General Assembly decided to observe World Refugee Day from 2001. We can all do our part on this day and throughout the year to make the life of a refugee a little easier. Can you befriend a refugee? What small contribution can you make to their success and well-being? Maybe you can make a donation to a cause that helps with settlement work for refugees. Perhaps, you have some gift that only you know how to share. Use it!
“We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa.
