World Refugee Day 2018

Refugees are people with families, education, and lives that have been forced to flee their home countries for fear of persecution, imprisonment, torture, or death. They had homes they cannot return to even though they wish too, and have the courage to move to a new country, with a new language and customs, to create a home for themselves. They wish to give back to the community and have their community understand them.

World Refugee day gives the world a chance to focus on the plight of those forced to flee, their resolve to survive and flourish, and how they can contribute in their new communities. The #withrefugees campaign, which started in 2016 in conjunction with World Refugee Day, encourages citizens around the world to sign a petition, to make sure every child gets an education, every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, and every refugee can work or learn new skills to support their families. It strives to provide support and awareness for those individuals who have struggled and are working to overcome that struggle, and gives the community a chance to welcome refugees to our community and acknowledge their struggles. Refugees face many challenges first in the act of fleeing, then in being an asylum seeker or having refugee status in a country, and finally in resettlement or reintegration into their home country. When fleeing persecution or violence, refugees have to often make precarious decisions that can result in financial or physical harm. If a refugee arrives in a safe location, they then can face difficulties, such as intolerance and discrimination, the inability to get a job, or the fear of corruption in the host country that can result poorly for them. Once a refugee has been accepted for resettlement to a new country, they have to deal with issues such as learning a new language, school and career recognition, recovery from past trauma, culture shock, navigating an unfamiliar system, providing for their family, and more. World Refugee Day gives others the chance to understand more about these challenges and how we can help.

To give a better understanding of the scale of refugee issues in the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states that in 1997 there were 33.9 million displaced people in the world, and in 2016, that number had risen to 66.5 million people, with the majority of the rise occurring between 2012 and 2015 by the Syrian conflict, along with conflicts in the region such as Iraq and Yemen, as well as in Burundi,

essays based on what I thought was in the head of the teacher, and not from my own original thought. Big mistake on my part, and it ultimately lead to my dislike of writing.

“Freedom of expression” is the way I got around the negativity of writing. I enjoy writing when I liken it to writing in a journal or a diary. Wikipedia describes journaling as a method of writing that focuses on the writer’s internal experiences, thoughts and feelings. Journaling often leads to mental and emotional clarity. Apparently, research is telling us that not only does journaling positively affect mental health, but also physical well-being. Writing what is on your mind can boost your immune system and even decrease symptoms in those who suffer from asthma and even rheumatoid arthritis. Research such as this may lead many to believe that journaling can improve overall health.

You may wonder what it is you can find to write about each and every day. There are many who lay in bed at night, rehashing the day they just had, or the day which is yet to come. Often it is enough to keep one awake. Every day there are challenges — some with successes Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. Of the 66.5 million displaced people, 22.5 million are refugees, half of which are under the age of 18. In 2016, the world resettled 189,300 refugees, which is less than 1% of refugees.

This year Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) will hold a World Refugee Day event in Crescent Park on June 20th from 10-3, everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about refugees. MJMC works hard with the community to welcome and support all newcomers, including refugees to Moose Jaw, and to become successful members of the community. In 2017, MJMC welcomed 67 Government Assisted Refugees, and have already received 22 to date this year. For more stats and information visit Unhcr.org.

and others with failure. Writing some of these down on paper is a good way to clear your brain. Seeing your thoughts in black and white will likely improve your organization and problem-solving skills. All this can reduce your stress, which we all know leads to better health.

Do you have to write a 500-word essay to get the health benefits of writing? Absolutely not. There are many who write just a few sentences in a daily diary. Write about what made you happy, or what peeved you. For most of you, it will be for your eyes only, so embrace the freedom of expression and don’t hold back. I start many of my articles with thoughts of the most recent experiences that “grind my gears.” While those pet peeves rarely make it to print for public consumption, it sure is cathartic in a way.

You don’t need a pen and paper, or fancy diary to start journaling. Nearly every smartphone has a built-in note-taking application. It only takes a few minutes to put your thoughts into written form.

Instead of an apple a day, “write a few sentences and call me in the morning!”