World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20th June and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilize political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but also thrive. While it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees.
Find out more about World Refugee Day here and find out about Refugee Week here
On Tuesday 20th June the MK Rose will mark World Refugee Day with an event starting at 6.30pm, which will include representatives of the many refugees now welcomed in MK. Do join us. All Welcome.
The Open University are marking Refugee Week with a series of online events covering a range of topics-from education pathways, widening access to education to refugees & asylum Seekers & recent legislative changes in seeking a refugee status in the UK. Click here for all the details.
A prayer for refugees from the Church of England:
Almighty
and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee
and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those
who today are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to
bring them relief;
inspire generosity and
compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of
the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and
of peace;
through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
Our friends at Community Action: MK write:
Join us, Darren Eden Communities and a range of other local voluntary organisations that have been supporting our diverse refugee communities across Milton Keynes on Wednesday 28th June.
This is a special networking and community event, which will feature presentations from groups supporting refugees, stories from people with lived experience of seeking refuge and asylum in Milton Keynes as well as stalls with information about the local support services, and opportunities available within the local Voluntary Sector.
The event will also feature discussions about how refugee support can be joined up across the City and a very special live performance of the "Broken Wings" play - following the journey of a teenage girl fleeing conflict and eventually arriving in the UK. Drawing attention to the trauma refugee children have experienced through their journeys and the challenges they face in their new life in the UK.
We hope you can join us to share, learn and celebrate Milton Keynes being a welcoming place and refuge for all.
Sign up here - https://bit.ly/RefugeeCommunityEvent
Show Hospitality not Hostility this Refugee Week
This June, faith groups across the UK are coming together to be communities of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary. As the government’s Migration Bill proposes a ban on claiming asylum in the UK, could you host a meal or tea during Refugee Week to stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers? If you think you can, then click here for more information.