Refugee Week
Refugee Week is coming up and you may be wondering what you can do to support refugees and people seeking safety in the UK and around the world.
The week starts on Monday June 17th and aligns with World Refugee Day - June 20th. It is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking safety.
Here are eight ideas for activities during Refugee Week that will help you learn about refugees and show your support for people seeking safety in the UK.
1. Learn from refugee's stories
For Refugee Week 2024, we want to showcase real stories from the people we help at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and share the personal numbers that matter most to those seeking safety in the UK.
After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, Masoma was separated from her family. Read her story.
Masoma - who took part in the IRC's leadership course - hopes to be reunited with her family
2. Watch a film
One Life (2023) tells the true story of Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued 669 refugee children from the Nazis. The critically acclaimed film stars Anthony Hopkins and Romola Garai.
This dark period of history led to the creation of the Refugee Convention that defines the term refugee. It also led to the creation of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), established in 1933 to help people fleeing Nazi persecution.
3. Visit a free photography exhibition
Climate Changed My Home is a powerful photography exhibition showing clients of the IRC whose lives are affected by the devastating impacts of the climate crisis happening right now.
The exhibition will be on display at London Bridge City, near Tower Bridge, from Thursday, 30th May to Sunday, 30 June 2024.
Climate changed: Learn how people are impacted by - and adapting to - the climate crisis
4. Get the facts about safe routes
It’s a myth that there are many safe routes available to those seeking safety in the UK. This means people in desperate situations are forced to make dangerous journeys.
Get the facts, and learn why the current system is failing the people who seek safety here.
5. Read a book about refugee experiences
Forget the negative headlines and misleading statistics used by politicians. These novels - some by refugee authors and others inspired by the stories of displaced people - are an opportunity to discover incredible personal stories of loss, resilience and hope. Here are our must-read recommendations or books about refugee experiences.
6. Learn about the causes of displacement
As well as supporting refugees and people seeking safety in the UK, Europe and the US, The International Rescue Committee helps people in the midst of humanitarian crises around the world.
Learn more about the causes of people being displaced around the world. Our Emergency Watchlist identifies the countries at greatest risk of worsening humanitarian crises and our priorities for helping people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.
7. Support refugees in schools
Share resources with your teachers and local schools about how to support refugee students. The IRC’s Healing Classrooms programme trains teachers and support staff how to offer refugee and asylum-seeking children a safe place to learn.
Share our tips for teachers supporting refugee students
8. Support a better system
Support our call for a better system for people seeking safety.
