As we come upon another World Refugee Day, we are reminded of how much work has been done over the last year. Cedars Network is growing in our staff members and capabilities to empower Syrian families to rebuild their communities. We’ve also witnessed the ways that you are acting with us on the belief that each person is valuable, each person has a purpose, and each person deserves hope for the future.
The global refugee crisis is a powerful reminder that we, as humans, need each other. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for reaching out and showing that you want to see refugees thriving in our communities.
We’re also reminded on this day that there is still much work to be done. So many families have crossed another year off their calendars and still have no place to call home. The number of internationally displaced people still hover at record highs. There are still a staggering number of families surviving in camps instead of thriving in communities. According to the UNHCR spokesperson, Shabia Mantoo, less than 5% of the global refugee resettlement needs were met in 2018.
As public awareness and urgency decline, we’ve made a list of things you can do to remind your country, your community and most importantly, our refugee friends that you are still here and you still care.
5 things you can do, starting today:
- Find the closest city to you that is a resettlement city and connect with the local NGO that is providing care for resettled families. There are often opportunities such as adopting a family for acclimation needs, helping someone with a drivers license, tutoring a child in English, and many others.
- Join the UNHCR Step with Refugees movement. Do you already run, walk or cycle and want those miles to count toward something bigger? This World Refugee Day, they are tracking the miles of people from all over the world who are joining in solidarity with families fleeing for their lives. The total goal is the distance refugee families cover each year to reach safety — 1 billion miles.
- Attend another World Refugee Day event - Or create one of your own events among family, friends or faith group. Here’s everything you need for Syrian dinner party.
- Educate yourself on the global plight of refugees and use the #withrefugees and #worldrefugeeday hashtag to help spread awareness and hope.
Donate to our work among Syrian refugees.
