RefugePoint’s Post

In the spirit of the Jesuit tradition, we are all called to be active participants in a world that urgently needs compassion and understanding. 🌍 The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) doesn’t just accompany and serve displaced persons and refugees; it also transforms the lives of those who serve, helping them discover deeper compassion and a renewed sense of purpose. It's no wonder many Jesuits complete their regency with JRS — it's a path that leads to profound personal growth and a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly human. Through their work with refugees, they experience the profound impact of making room for tenderness, compassion and generosity. In other words, they learn to love deeply. https://bit.ly/3B1w1CR 🤝 ❤️ ➡️ Curious about how you can accompany refugees and make a difference? 📘 Download JRS’s new guide, ON THE MOVE, and learn how you can advocate for marginalized communities and foster real change: https://bit.ly/3Tjc8NY

Catalyzing change takes collaboration. Take it from Sasha Chanoff, CEO and Founder of RefugePoint. As we learned from Sasha on this week's episode, bold transformation does not happen with one person or organization but with many coming together under a North Star. For RefugePoint and 30 other organizations, their North Star was fixing the broken refugee resettlement system. Together, they created the Self-Reliance Index, a tool that helps measure a refugee's progress toward self-reliance. The end goal? To empower all refugees to become dignified citizens in their new home country. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/evk5WqDZ

Refugee Week is here! It's an annual celebration to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community. The aims of Refugee Week are: ▶️ to educate on who refugees are and why they have come ▶️ to help people understand the many challenges refugees face ▶️ to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community ▶️ to focus on providing a safe, welcoming environment for refugees This Refugee Week, the theme is "Finding Freedom: Family." 👨👩👦 It highlights the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience. This Refugee Week, we aim to highlight the transformative power of familial bonds, both blood and chosen, in the face of adversity. We underscore the crucial role families play in providing solace, support, and a sense of belonging to those forced to flee their homelands. Imagine being uprooted from your home, leaving behind familiar faces and a support system built over years. This year’s theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families. Whether it’s the unwavering support of parents, the protective love between siblings, or the communal strength found in extended and chosen families, neighbours, support systems upon arrival in Australia or the financial and emotional backbones that make the journey to safety possible, these connections become a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. ❓How can we celebrate these connections and support refugees finding freedom? Visit https://loom.ly/ikjwjkE to find ways to get involved and be inspired by stories like Somayeh's: Somayeh, born into a conservative Muslim family in Tehran, was a dedicated science teacher for over 10 years. After converting to another religion with her husband, they faced severe harassment and threats, forcing them to flee Iran with their young children. Their perilous journey to Australia by fishing boat is a testament to their courage and resilience. This Refugee Week, let's shine a light on the stories of refugee families and their contribution in making Australia a richer country. 💫 #Refugees #RefugeeWeek #StandWithRefugees #Diversity

Navigating the Refugee Crisis: A Deep Dive with Deborah Henry On August 1st, The Nation with Nadia Blatif featured a pivotal interview with Deborah Priya Henry, founder of Fugee.org, discussing the #refugee crisis and Malaysia's role. What can we learn from her point of view? 1. Global Refugee Challenges: Deborah emphasized the growing refugee crisis driven by conflict, climate change, and issues like those in Myanmar. 2. Southeast Asia's Role: She highlighted Malaysia's significant refugee population, especially the Rohingya, and the need for better policies. 3. Policy Gaps: Deborah stressed the lack of effective policies for refugees in Malaysia, noting that this complicates the situation for everyone. There is a need for better integration and support, which can improve social cohesion. 4. Education and Rights: She advocated for refugees' right to education and work, addressing gaps between labor needs and opportunities. Deborah's insights urge us to rethink our approach to refugee support and advocate for both citizen and governmental accountability. 📺 Watch the full interview on BTV-Program for more. 👥 Support local initiatives, advocate for refugee rights, and educate others. Your voice can shape a more inclusive future. #RefugeeCrisis #Fugee #TheNation #YouthForChange 

Refugee Week is here! It's an annual celebration to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community. The aims of Refugee Week are: ▶️ to educate on who refugees are and why they have come ▶️ to help people understand the many challenges refugees face ▶️ to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community ▶️ to focus on providing a safe, welcoming environment for refugees This Refugee Week, the theme is "Finding Freedom: Family." 👨👩👦 It highlights the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience. This Refugee Week, we aim to highlight the transformative power of familial bonds, both blood and chosen, in the face of adversity. We underscore the crucial role families play in providing solace, support, and a sense of belonging to those forced to flee their homelands. Imagine being uprooted from your home, leaving behind familiar faces and a support system built over years. This year’s theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families. Whether it’s the unwavering support of parents, the protective love between siblings, or the communal strength found in extended and chosen families, neighbours, support systems upon arrival in Australia or the financial and emotional backbones that make the journey to safety possible, these connections become a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. ❓How can we celebrate these connections and support refugees finding freedom? Visit https://loom.ly/ikjwjkE to find ways to get involved and be inspired by stories like Somayeh's: Somayeh, born into a conservative Muslim family in Tehran, was a dedicated science teacher for over 10 years. After converting to another religion with her husband, they faced severe harassment and threats, forcing them to flee Iran with their young children. Their perilous journey to Australia by fishing boat is a testament to their courage and resilience. This Refugee Week, let's shine a light on the stories of refugee families and their contribution in making Australia a richer country. 💫 #Refugees #RefugeeWeek #StandWithRefugees #Diversity

There are two days left this year to give! When you give, you reach young people in slums, in refugee camps, in struggling schools, and beyond. When you give, you expand movements impacting cities in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the U.S. When you give, you take your irreplaceable part in changing the world's most hurting neighborhoods. https://hubs.ly/Q02-Pn870

Imagine a world where hosting refugees isn’t just about offering shelter—it’s about creating a ripple effect of transformation. Through home-share programs, hosts gain more than they give: cultural exchange, meaningful connections, and the chance to contribute to someone’s journey of rebuilding their life. Refugees bring resilience, skills, and diverse perspectives that enrich communities and challenge the status quo. At Places to Thrive, we believe in turning these connections into a movement of growth, understanding, and shared humanity. By supporting safe spaces for refugees, we’re not just helping individuals—we’re building a future where compassion leads and everyone thrives. Let’s make thriving the norm, together.

🏡 Home is where the heart is… RIGHT? But what if your heart is shattered and your new neighbours turn their backs? Today is #WorldRefugeeDay. The theme for the Refugee Week Festival this year is “Our Home.” https://lnkd.in/eGE8uvme Think about what home means to you. Home isn't just a physical space—it's a feeling. It’s a sense of community and belonging. For too many refugees, the journey to find a new home is fraught with challenges, heartache, and trauma. These journeys get increasingly perilous the longer time goes on. We know how treacherous the journey can be for refugees across the world— remember that’s not a life choice decision. So imagine the brutality they are trying to escape to even consider these horrific experiences. 🚨 The UN has cited that we are living in the WORST TIME IN HISTORY FOR HUMANITY: 120 million people have been forcibly displaced globally. This includes refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people. ❗We need to be better global citizens; open our community doors and wrap our arms around this vulnerable population to help them create a new sense of home. ❤️ Home is not defined by walls but by the warmth, safety and acceptance we extend to one another. 🤟🏼 We need to create a healthier version of "Our Home" into reality, one small act of kindness at a time. The illustration below from World Refugee week is a cool place to start. 🌍 We need to do a lot better. 👉🏼 Start now. #Community #BetterTogether #TheHumanDifference _______________ ALT text embedded in image

On #WorldRefugeeDay, please take moment to consider how you can alleviate the suffering of refugees and other displaced people, especially young people. Below is a former refugee, refugee advocate and my favorite author - Khaled Hosseini - reading a poem about this topic.

Simple Acts Discover a Story Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. Whether you build your own event or activity around a Simple Act or simply take part during Refugee Week, you’ll be part of a movement of people everywhere taking small steps to create a big change. For millennia, stories have served as our compass in navigating the complexities of existence, illuminating our understanding of the world and our role within it. They serve as bridges between individuals, forging connections that transcend time and space. Engaging with narratives of refugees allows us to grasp the profound human dimensions of forced migration and displacement. Through these stories, we enter into the lived experiences of individuals, witnessing their struggles, hopes, and resilience. Each narrative offers a portal into a different reality, fostering empathy and understanding. As Refugee Week approaches, we invite you to explore the rich tapestry of refugee voices through literature or podcasts. By lending an ear to these stories, we not only honor the journeys of those who have been displaced but also enrich our own capacity for empathy and compassion. This Refugee Week, we encourage you to pick a book or listen to a podcast that puts the stories and voices of refugees in focus. Comment with your favourites! #SimpleActs #RefugeeWeekGreece #RefugeeWeekGreece2024 Illustrations by Manjit Thapp