On June 20, 2008, the International Rescue Committee celebrates World Refugee Day, established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as an annual salute to the courage, resilience and strength of refugees.

IRC offices around the world are marking the occasion with a variety of events throughout the month. These are just a few:

United States

Atlanta

June 18 - Dine Out on World Refugee Day: Participating restaurants will donate a portion of proceeds to IRC's refugee resettlement program in Atlanta. Details >

June 20 - “The Real Faces of Iraq: The Humanitarian Crisis for Iraqi Refugees”: Symposium co-hosted by the IRC's Baltimore office and the John Hopkins University Center for Refugee and Disaster Response.  3:30pm-5:30pm, reception to follow. Details >

Boston 

June 20 - Refugee Day at the State House: Hear refugees talk about their new lives and new homes in Massachusetts. 11:00am at the Gardner Auditorium. Contact: Serge Bologov, (617) 285-2227

Charlottesville

June 2008 - Awards Ceremony: The IRC's Charlottesville office will bestow its annual Employer Leadership Award to Design Electric  Contact:  (434) 979-7772

Miami

June 19-20 - Miami Herald campaign: A message from the IRC's Miami office will run in The Miami Herald to recognize the contribution of refugees around the world. Catch the online version on the Herald's Web site until the end of the month.

June 23 - "World Refugee Crisis" panel discussion: Speakers will include Professor Irwin Stotzky of the University of Miami and Mrs. Denise Wallace, Esq. 8 PM at Books & Books. Details >

Oakland

June 18 - “Make Dining Out Count”: Participating restaurants will donate up to 25% of their receipts for the day to support the IRC's programs in Oakland. Details >

Phoenix

June 17 - “Rain in a Dry Land” Film Screening: 6:30 PM at the Arizona State University Museum of Anthropology. Contact:  (602) 433-2440

June 18 - Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Game: World Refugee Day will be observed at Chase Field with 30 young refugees in the audience. 6:40 PM at Chase Field. Contact:  (602) 433-2440

June 19 - “The Kite Runner” Film Screening: 7 PM at the Valley Art Theater. Contact:  (602) 433-2440

June 20 - Cultural Showcase: 7 PM at the Tempe Marketplace.  Contact:  (602) 433-2440

San Diego

June 20 - IRC Night: Come and enjoy great craft ales while supporting the IRC. 5 PM, Hamilton’s Tavern, 1521 30th St, San Diego. Contact:  (619) 641-7510

June 21 - World Refugee Day Picnic: After exploring the newly opened City Heights Farmers market, join the IRC for a in the grassy area adjacent to City Heights Libraryfor a picnic. Noon, City Heights Farmers Market, San Diego. Contact:  (619) 641-7510

San Francisco

June 18 - “Make Dining Out Count”: Participating restaurants will donate up to 25% of their receipts for the day to support the IRC's programs in San Francisco. Details >

June 20 - Benefit Event at the San Francisco Opera House: The IRC's San Francisco office will be the beneficiary of a fundraising event sponsored by Harvard School of Business Alumni Association and the Wellesley Club. Contact: (415) 863-3777

San Jose

June 18 - “Make Dining Out Count”:  Visit restaurants that have partnered with the IRC and are donating a percentage of their profits on World Refugee Day. Details >  

June 20 - “Refugee Artvocacy”: An evening of art and performance, featuring refugee artists from around the world.  7:00-9:30pm at the Seattle Center House 305 Harrison St. Seattle. Contact: (206) 623-2105  Details >

Around the World

At the Oure Cassoni camp, home to refugees from the Darfur crisis, women's groups will perform short plays depicting life in the camp and the dangers they encounter when they leave to collect firewood for cooking.  Women will be exhibiting and selling the baskets, knitting and sewing and other articles they make at IRC women's centers. There will also be games and sports matches for children and teens.

The IRC will be part of a World Refugee Day event in Nairobi that will include arts performances and exhibitions representing various refugee groups, academic achievement awards presented to refugee students, and speakers on the topic of protecting refugees. You can find Joanne Offer's blog from the event here.

An exhibition of photos by Peter Biro and other IRC staff members runs June 20-29 at the Indigo Gallery in Kathmandu.

Pakistan

Observances include an exhibiton about refugee's lives and IRC's work assisting Afghan refugees in Pakistan, a traditional Afghan song performed by a refugee student, and a drama performance on the theme of peaceful co-existence.

In Thailand, where the IRC is assisting Burmese refugees, IRC staff members and a refugee speaker will describe life in the refugee camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border for the local community. There will be a photo exhibit depicting refugees' daily lives and a recreation of a refugee home.

World Refugee Day will also be celebrated through the arts —  with a drawing contest, essays, poems and traditional dance — and in sports, including football, volleyball and rope-pulling matches. A legal assistance booth will be set up with Q&A sessions for refugees.  Drama and music performaces from refugees who are part of IRC-supported "peace-building" groups are planned to help raise awareness of of violence against women and children and how men can build peace in the community.

June 16 - IRC-UK Annual Lecture and Reception: António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, will speak about "The Challenges of Displacement in the 21st Century."  7 PM at The Royal Geographical Society, London. NEW report from the event >