Jesuit Refugee Service Europe

World Refugee Day, 20th June 2005

20 June, 2005 marks the fifth World Refugee Day. This day is celebrated all around the world with events such as conferences, stand up comedies, concerts and memorial services.

In order to 'listen to and learn from refugees' JRS Belgium together with JRS Europe created a special website: www.20June.org. People have been invited to leave short messages, expressing their wishes and sharing their ideas. At the 'Fête au Village' yesterday, a one-day celebration for refugees in Brussels music, dance and games from four corners of the world, children's activities, food and drink, already 65 messages, mostly together with pictures, were posted on the website.

JRS International issued the following statement for the occasion of World Refugee Day, 20 June 2005:
Listen to and learn from forcibly displaced persons

"Forcibly displaced persons need to be listened to. It is important that the
priorities of refugee-assisting organisations come directly from those they
are there to serve and are not imposed from above. We learn from those we
serve. Without their guidance, our programmes are without meaning. If they
are given access to accurate information and sufficient resources, forcibly
displaced persons are the best decision-makers about their lives in exile
and the long-term solutions for their futures", said Fr Lluís Magriñà, JRS
International Director. more....

French version
Spanish version
Italian version

Here are some of the event JRS is involved in across Europe..........

JRS Ireland

There will be a celebration of World Refugee Day on Thursday, 23 June 2005 in
Ozanam House, 53 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1
from 10.00 - 13.00 hrs. Many different nationalities will participate in an open forum around refugee issues from 11.00 - 12.15hrs.
Further more we have organised an Open Forum around integration from 11.00-12.15hr.
A creche and light refreshments / snacks available.

For further information, contact Community Links (01) 806 98 99 or JRS-Ireland
Mr Eugene Quinn, Country Director
26 Upper Sherrard St., Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1 855 68 14 - Fax: +353 1 8364377
Ireland(a)jrs.net

JRS Belgium

Together with other NGOs, JRS Belgium is organizing a ‘Fete au Village’, a one-day celebration of Refugees in Brussels. There will be music, dance and games from four corners of the world, children's activities, food and drink at reasonable prices

ALL WELCOME!

“Fête au Village” will take place on Sunday 19 of June, the day before World Refugee Day, in the Saint Michel Jesuit College, Brussels, from 13h - 19h.

JRS Malta

JRS Malta, in collaboration with two other Maltese NGOs (Emigrant's Commission and Moviment Graffitti) and UNHCR are organising a celebration on Saturday, June 18 in the main square of Balzan, a central village on the island of Malta.

The event will kick off at 6 pm with art and drum workshops, henna painting and hair braiding. His Excellency the Archbishop and His Excellency the President of Malta, together with UNHCR's representative for Malta, will officially open the event. One can then visit food-tasting stalls set-up in a refugee home close-by and enjoy a line-up of local and foreign entertainment. One can also use computers on location to post messages on an international web-site set-up by JRS Europe specifically for the event. Local and foreign artists will also be on-site painting, sculpting and taking photographs.

The event will come to a close at 11 pm. Participation is free.

JRS UK

There will be a Refugee Party organised by JRS-UK with food and music on Saturday the 18th of June. It will be held at St Ignatius Parish, Stamford Hill, London, from 12 until 5pm. Please contact JRS for further information. 020-73570974

Jesuit Refugee Service Europe - Rue du Progrès (Vooruitgangstraat) 333/2 - B-1030 Bruxelles - Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 250 32 20 - Fax: + 32 2 250 32 29 - Email: europe(a)jrs.net