I am in countdown mode! Next week is World Refugee Day and I am very excited. For today, I want to share a post from our Facebook page. Tomorrow I am excited to share more about a partnering organization located nearby.
Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety.
As we get closer to World Refugee Day on June 20 and our local celebration on June 25, we want to share more about this year's focus: the right to seek safety.
From UNHCR: "Whoever they are, people forced to flee should be treated with dignity. Anyone can seek protection, regardless of who they are or what they believe. It is non-negotiable: seeking safety is a human right.
Wherever they come from, people forced to flee should be welcomed. Refugees come from all over the globe. To get out of harm’s way, they might take a plane, a boat, or travel on foot. What remains universal is the right to seek safety.
Whenever people are forced to flee, they have a right to be protected. Whatever the threat – war, violence, persecution – everyone deserves protection. Everyone has a right to be safe."
I cannot even imagine the trauma that our new neighbors have undergone. How poignant were the pictures of people seeking to flee from Afghanistan? I have seen some people walk through our doors and their whole face was alight with a smile. I have seen others who have smiles that don't quite reach their eyes. My heart hurts for all of them.
Today I connected with a sweet lady, Miss Ronnie. She was a social worker for many years, and now has chosen to continue that help in her retirement years. In addition to helping people with Medicaid applications, social security applications and more, Miss Ronnie has a passion to help those with mental illness. She has an affiliation with NAMI and has undergone training in order to help others in our community. I had never considered partnering with NAMI, but now I am intrigued and wonder just how I can use my personal time to add this training. Would this training be a good fit to help our friends at City of Refuge? It is an interesting idea to contemplate. Just because I have a burden does not mean that I am the one to implement it.
I have heard stories about refugees that live in fear and curl up within themselves as they try to get a handle the emotional upheaval that they have endured. Other refugees choose to raise funds to help support their family and friends hiding in the jungle. Some refugees turn to their faith for coping skills.
I feel so blessed to work with a group of people who walk alongside their refugee friends to provide love, support, comfort, and education. It truly does take a village!
And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:22 KJV
Click here to find out more about volunteer opportunities at City of Refuge.
All opinions expressed here are solely mine and are not a reflection of the opinions of the AmeriCorps VISTA program
or of City of Refuge in Columbia, MO.
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