{"id":14824,"date":"2021-06-23T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T23:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/?p=14824"},"modified":"2021-06-15T09:32:46","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T23:32:46","slug":"discover-the-powerful-potential-of-unity-this-refugee-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/2021\/06\/23\/discover-the-powerful-potential-of-unity-this-refugee-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover the powerful potential of Unity this Refugee Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Library invites you to join us in observing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Refugee Week<\/span><\/a>, which runs from Sunday 20 June (<\/span>World Refugee Day<\/span><\/a>) to Saturday 26 June<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Refugee Week\u00a0<\/span>provides the opportunity to\u00a0<\/span>celebrate\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0contributions of refugees to Australian society and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to educate people about who refugees are, why they come to Australia and the\u00a0<\/span>type of challenges they face.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The theme for Refugee Week 2021 is\u00a0<\/span>Unity<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>There is a powerful potential in unity<\/span>\u2014together we can create\u00a0<\/span>a culture of welcome and understanding<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>leading\u00a0<\/span>to more cohesive communities. The successful integration of refugees in Australian society<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>means that refugees can live in safety<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be accepted and valued in their new home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Griffith, we aim to create an inclusive community that welcomes and supports people from refugee backgrounds.\u00a0<\/span>Juvenal\u00a0<\/span>Ndayishimiye<\/span>, a Griffith Futures Scholarship recipient and Business graduate,<\/span>\u00a0knows firsthand the hardships of building a new life<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>after having to flee\u00a0<\/span>his home country<\/span>\u00a0of Burundi<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Now,\u00a0<\/span>more than 10 years<\/span>\u00a0after\u00a0<\/span>arriving<\/span>\u00a0in Australia<\/span>, Juvenal\u00a0<\/span>gives back to the community through his youth mentoring projects.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll always appreciate it. I was made to feel I belonged. I was made to feel valued \u2026 I want others to have that same opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Juvenal <\/span>Ndayishimiye<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To read more about Juvenal\u2019s experience, visit the\u00a0<\/span>Staff Giving website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>You can\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>visit the\u00a0<\/span>Student Equity Outreach website<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>read the personal experiences<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of other Griffith students and graduates and\u00a0<\/span>find out more<\/span><\/a>\u00a0about the academic support available to students<\/span>\u00a0from refugee backgrounds<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do I get involved?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The official Refugee Week website has plenty of\u00a0<\/span>recommendations of how you can\u00a0<\/span>get involved<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0Check out the<\/span>\u00a0Refugee Week<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>events calendar<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and the Queensland Government\u2019s Multicultural Affairs\u00a0<\/span>events calendar<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to find out what\u2019s happening near you or consider<\/span>\u00a0hosting your own event; this year,\u00a0<\/span>you can register to\u00a0<\/span>Share a Meal, Share a Story<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>build community awareness and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>raise funds for the continued support of refugees in Australia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he most\u00a0<\/span>valuable<\/span>\u00a0contribution<\/span>\u00a0you can make is<\/span>\u00a0continuing to welcome and support refugees even when\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0not Refugee Week.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Explore<\/span>\u00a0the different ways you can provide support through<\/span>\u00a0your\u00a0<\/span>work or\u00a0<\/span>in the wider\u00a0<\/span>community<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>unit<\/span>ing with<\/span>\u00a0organisations that support refugees<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Not sure where to start?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Take a look at\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Queensland Multicultural Resource Directory<\/span><\/a>, where you can<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>search for local refugee service organisations<\/span>, or consider\u00a0<\/span>volunteering<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do I learn more?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about the<\/span>\u00a0diverse<\/span>\u00a0experience<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of refugees,\u00a0<\/span>you can find the following\u00a0<\/span>books<\/span>\u00a0through the\u00a0<\/span>Library<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n