We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. Having left behind their homes, jobs, and sometimes even their family, and with few personal possessions, the United Nations estimates there are currently 25.4 million refugees worldwide.
Showing solidarity
World Refugee Day aims to raise awareness of this ongoing humanitarian crisis. First marked in 2001, exactly 50 years after the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was passed, 20 June is when people around the world express their solidarity with people who have been uprooted from their homes by conflict or persecution.
For many, fleeing their homeland is only just the beginning of a long process that involves negotiating national borders, seeking asylum, and integrating themselves into a new community. Which is why, this year, the UN Refugee Agency is urging people to call on governments around the world to sign the #WithRefugees petition, which asks that:
· Every refugee child gets an education
· Every refugee family has somewhere safe to live
· Every refugee can work or learn new skills to support their families
Turning empathy into action
When it comes to integration, everyone benefits when we find ways to utilize refugees’ skill sets. Among those with professional backgrounds, Talent Beyond Boundaries found engineering (such as mechanical and electronic) and information technology are among the top five specializations of refugees.
“Many refugees have had a great education,” says Jörg Pohl, who heads up the Siemens Internship of Refugees Program, “so to give them rewarding work and show them how a big organization like Siemens is set up, and what it’s like working in Germany — this is the first step of integration.”
