Human Rights Articles

World Refugee Day is June 20^th

This content was originally published as a FAWCO-wide awareness raising campaign for World Refugee Day 2018 by the FAWCO Target Program for Education. The following is credited to Julie Lehr, Lauren Mescon and Tricia Saur.

Start Organizing Your Event

ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

1. WALK/RUN: Most refugees don’t "get out" by plane with their belongings, most have no time to prepare and flee on foot. Plan a walk and contemplate their experience. Get together afterward to share your thoughts with each other. 
2. VOLUNTEER: at a local refugee center, a school or community center.
3. CONNECT: Share a meal with refugees… Here’s a NYT article about events in Berlin, Berlin Dinner Parties that Celebrate Refugees and Their Food  - look for something in your area.
4. EXPERIENCE: While we can’t really know the experience, we can gain insights through experiential activities. Are there museums in your area, like Humanity House in The Hague or The Tropen Museum in Amsterdam, that will help organize an experience?
5. DONATE: clothes, shoes, household items, craft supplies, toys... whatever your local refugee center may need - please be sure items are in good condition!
6. FUNDRAISE: Use the day not only to raise awareness but also to raise funds. It will be summer - do something outdoors - host a swim meet, tennis round robin or a golf tournament.
7. LEARN: Organize speakers and/or a photography/art exhibition. Host a book discussion. Host a film viewing followed by discussion (suggestions below).

GENERAL PLANNING GUIDELINES

• Identify your goal - raise awareness, funds, or both!
• Pick a date.
• Create a timeline to lead you up to the event.
• Build your committee - for organization, for promotion, and especially someone to coordinate volunteers, if applicable.
• Determine if there are other events in your area you can join; are there other organizations with whom to collaborate.
• Involve your youth!
• Check if you need a permit (is there a cost?) depending on event - i.e., a walk or a run.
• Establish your message and how you will identify yourselves…
  • as members of your club and/or FAWCO?
  • promoting refugee rights or other?
  • t-shirts, sashes, signs, pins, etc.
• Promote your event as soon as you have the date and concept:
  • Send “save the date” announcements  
  • Provide event details 3-4 weeks prior to the event
  • Communication methods - emails, Facebook posts, newsletter, flyers, announcements at meetings, individual contacts, whatever works best for your club.
• Schedule a meeting for all participants. Solicit their ideas, as the more involved people are, the more they are invested in the outcome.

LET’S TALK

We want to generate a global dialogue between FAWCO/FAUSA members.

• Post to Facebook: on the FAWCO and FAWCO Refugee Network pages as you prepare, plan and hold your activity.
• Share your success by submitting a note to
• Write articles for your club newsletter, for your FAWCO reps to share, for the FAWCO newsletters and website.
• Count your steps/distance if you do a walk or run and share that number along with the number of participants with Maggie Palu (AW Aquitane) from Clubs in Motion!

BE INSPIRED

• AWC Amsterdam created a team and joined the Nacht Van De Vluchteling, the Night of the Refugee. It is a walk organized by the Netherlands Refugee Foundation and is held throughout the Netherlands. On Saturday, June 16, 2018, at midnight sharp, thousands of people started their 40 kilometer walk (additional shorter walks were held earlier in the evening).
• In July 2017, AWC Amsterdam member, Martha Canning walked 160 kilometers to raise funds for the FAWCO Target Project Hope Beyond Displacement and to raise awareness of the plight of refugees.  Read her story.

Book Suggestions:

• When the Moon is Low,  by Naida Hashimi
• A Hope More Powerful than the Sea,  by Melissa Fleming, Chief Spokesperson for UNHCR.
• City of Thorns, by Ben Rawlence

Film Suggestions:

• Human Flow
• 13 Powerful Films about Refugees You Need To See
• 7 videos guaranteed to change the way you see refugees
• 7 free short films about refugees recommended by human rights educators

Acknowledgements: The FAWCO Human Rights Team is grateful to Julie Lehr, Lauren Mescon and Tricia Saur for the content in this document. This content was originally published as a FAWCO-wide awareness raising campaign for World Refugee Day 2018 by the FAWCO Target Program for Education.

The content was modified from its original form to reflect that certain events have occurred and to include news in the FAWCO Refugee Network, a group created in March 2018, within the FAWCO Human Rights team. Feedback regarding this document or related activities may be sent to: .