Jesuit Refugee Service celebrated World Refugee Day with
numerous related events throughout the world. Here are some
details from around Europe:
Romania
On Saturday 23
June JRS Romania and the National Refugee Office organised a
picnic for refugees and asylum seekers in the Stolnicul Centre.
A children’s choir from Bucharest Children’s Palace attended the
event and sang many songs. Traditional food - African, Arabic
and Romanian - was served to the participants. A table tennis
championship was also organised and all the children received
prizes.
Following World Refugee Day, on 27 June 2007 JRS and the Refugee
Woman's Association organised a football match. The refugees’
team played three teams, one composed of employees from the
Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform and two teams
from C division. After the match the participants were served
with food and drinks.
Picnic for World Refugee Day 2007
Italy
On 21 June, JRS
Italy, in cooperation with a group of Italian organisations,
held an ecumenical vigil in memory of those migrants and
refugees who have died while trying to reach safety in Europe.
Other events included a press conference aimed at highlighting
the importance of human rights education in Italian schools and,
on 28 June, a seminar on refugee health.
Ireland
JRS Ireland/ Community Links Project
organised an Open Forum to mark World Refugee Day. The theme of
the Open Forum was education and how refugees can be integrated
through education (formal - primary, secondary and further
education - and non-formal education).
A panel of experts, opened the debate on how to ensure the
successful integration of refugees through education. It is
hoped the Open Forum will assist in developing specific
recommendations to improve services and facilitate integration.
