World Refugee Day: One Refugee without Hope is Too Many

Submitted by Stefanie on June 17, 2011 - 4:47pm

World Refugee Day is Monday, June 20 and we are reminded of the estimated 15.6 million (2010 according to UNHCR Global Trends Report) refugees worldwide. Who is a refugee? A refugee is essentially a person who has had to flee his/her home country out of fear of persecution. Refugees from many countries are resettled in Colorado every year, from Burma (Myanmar), Somalia, and Sudan, among others.

Learn more about refugees by reading these personal stories for children:

A Hare in the Elephant's Trunk by Jan Coates, fiction, grades 8 and up
Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan by John Bul Dau, nonfiction, grades 7-10
Living as a Refugee in America: Mohammed's Story by Helen Howard, nonfiction, grades 5-8
Muktar and the Camels by Janet Graber, fiction, grades 2-3
The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman, fiction, preschool - grade 3
Los colores de la casa (en español)
The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson, fiction, ages 10 and up
Out of Iraq: Refugees' Stories in Words, Paintings and Music by Sybella Wilkes, nonfiction, grades 5-9
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins, fiction, grades 7-10
Bamboo People Audio eBook, Grades 7-10

Links

Stefanie's blog

Comments

Submitted by Jan L. Coates on June 22, 2011 - 3:28pm.

Thank you so much for supporting my book, and paying attention to refugee children and their stories!

Submitted by Bobby on June 18, 2011 - 3:29pm.

If you're interested in volunteering to assist refugees here in Denver, Lutheran Family Services of Colorado are always looking for cultural mentors and other volunteers:
http://www.lfsco.org/refugee-asylee

Also a great local non-profit, Project Worthmore, can help you get involved directly or in fundraising efforts:
http://www.projectworthmore.org/

It's a great way to learn about other cultures while providing essential help for newly arrived refugees.

Thanks for the post!