RefuNet

🎄Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!🕎 ✝️Christmas is an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus, whom most Christians believe to be the Son of God. 🎅🏽However, Christmas has become a cultural celebration as well as a religious one, with many non-Christians also marking the day. ✡️This 25th December is also the start of the eight days and nights of Hanukkah. 🕍Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebel warriors, retaking control of Judea in Western Asia from the pagan Macedonian Greeks in the second century B.C. ✡️Upon retaking control of Judea, the Maccabees lit the menorah, a cartoon of which can be seen in the image, in the Temple of Jerusalem. The olive oil used to ignite the menorah was enough for just one day and night, but is said to have kept it alight for eight days and nights as a symbol of the rededication of the Temple to God. 🎉Jews now light an additional candle on menorahs in their own homes each night for eight consecutive nights each year to commemorate the event. Celebrations also include singing, playing games, and eating special foods. ❤️RefuNet hopes everyone has a wonderful 25th of December, however you spend it!

🗣️We love posting about our amazing students and teachers, and this quote allows you to hear directly from a tutor. 🎤This teacher has some lovely things to say about their lessons and student, as well as RefuNet as a whole. 📲If you're a student or a teacher for RefuNet, please let us know if you have something to say that you would like sharing.

🗺️It’s International Migrants Day!🗺️ 🌎On the 18th of December every year, the challenges experienced by the world’s millions of migrants and internally displaced people are highlighted, and their contributions are celebrated. 🌍This date was chosen because on the 18th of December 1990, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was signed. 🌏 Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, says ‘on International Migrants Day, we highlight the urgent need for safe migration governance rooted in solidarity, partnership, and respect for human rights’.

🇬🇧A #GreatBritishWelcome shows the UNHCR’s stories of how communities across the UK welcome people who have been forced to flee their homes. 🇦🇫This particular story is about a refugee from Afghanistan finding his voice, and a community, in an acclaimed choir. 👉🏽The full story is available here: https://lnkd.in/eYbZb_ar

🗺️It’s Human Rights Day!🗺️ 🌎On the 10th of December every year, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is celebrated. This was the first global expression of human rights. 🌍This date was chosen because on the 10th of December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly’s adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 🌏The Declaration requires nations to recognise all humans as being ‘born free and equal in dignity and rights’ regardless of ‘nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status’.

🕵🏼RefuNet wants to highlight and bust the myth that ‘if the boats aren’t stopped, this small country is going to be overrun’. 🙅♀️Comparing population growth data from different countries shows the UK is larger than people may think, and is home to a smaller proportion of the world’s population today than it was 70 years ago. 🔎For more information, see https://lnkd.in/e9REAH5r,  https://lnkd.in/etiEmTP & https://lnkd.in/eTszF6z5

🎄RefuNet’s Christmas Gift Guide🎄 ⭐️In our Christmas Gift Guide, we have four ideas for places to shop this holiday season. The images show just a few examples of the many wonderful gifts that each shop has on offer! 🎁Care4Calais - https://lnkd.in/enr4e8pj 🎅🏽Amnesty International - https://lnkd.in/e4STjDMT 🎁UNICEF - https://lnkd.in/e9QMWRgt 🎅🏽Love Welcomes - https://lnkd.in/ejtPCtbH

📰🚨In The News… 🚨📰 🖌️In this series, we present what’s In The News at the moment. 🚨This is a roundup of news stories which feature refugees and asylum seekers. ➡️Swipe to see our roundup of a recent article entitled ‘Ireland's view of immigration one year since Dublin riots’. 🖇The full article can be found at https://lnkd.in/eAZ-ZZ34

🧡International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women🧡 🇺🇳The United Nations has designated 25th November as being dedicated to raising awareness for women being subjected to rape, domestic abuse, and other forms of violence. 🇩🇴25th November was chosen because, on this day in 1960, three sisters were assassinated for their opposition to the dictator of the Dominican Republic. ✋Each year, 25th November to 10th December (Human Rights Day) is the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Orange is the signature colour of this - bright and optimistic, it represents a future free from violence against women and girls. 🚨Some key facts and figures that show the importance of raising awareness of this issue are available at https://lnkd.in/gYka5g2z.

❓It’s Quiz Time with RefuNet🤔 ⌨️Let us know in the comments if you got the answer correct or if you didn’t know this fact! 👀Keep an eye out for future quizzes👀