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8th World Refugee Day

unhcr smallOn the 27th June 2008, during the annual meeting with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs', the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), António Guterres, reminded us of the importance of partnerships with NGOs.
The International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF) signed, in 2007, a Partnership Agreement with the UNHCR; therefore it has a role to play - each of its members in his/her country. All that is possible to do has to be done to open the doors of the National Representations.

In France, the National Scout and Guide Fellowship (NSGF) worked with the UNHCR National Representation to prepare the World Refugee Day of the 20th June 2008 and considered what follow up might be proposed, on a wider scale, to the other members of ISGF.

The theme of that day was:
"Women Refugees; the challenges of asylum, of repatriation and of integration"

Before giving the floor to the guests, we were reminded:

  • that the UNHCR today helps about 33 millions people in more that 110 countries
  • that refugees are always victims
  • that most of the victims are among women and girls

Guest World Refugee DayThere were 4 guests, in addition to the VIP speakers.
Rega, from the North of Iraq, has been a refugee in Sweden since 2001. She argues in favour of an organisation defending the rights of women and has written a book called "Help! A voice from Kurdistan! »
Nawal is from Iraq. In 2003, with her husband and their 3 children, she flew from Iraq for the first time and has actually found refuge in Syria. The family earns 350 dollars per month out of which 200 are used to pay the rent of the single room in which the family of 5 lives.
Jacqueline is a woman from Burundi. A former refugee in Tanzania, she is now repatriated in her country with her family thanks to the UNHCR. She was accompanied by Espérance of the UNHCR in Burundi who works particularly on the community programs for reintegration.
Louiza is a former refugee from Chechnya. She arrived in France 6 years ago and was recognized as a refugee by the OFPRA (French office for the protection of refugees and stateless people). She is today perfectly integrated and a short time ago was granted French nationality.

These very moving stories led the team UNHCR/NSGF to suggest two projects which could be proposed to the members of ISGF:

In Syria, where the climate is very hot, Nawal, when back home, will investigate the following project: open a classroom which could be used as an activity centre for young refugee children and also young Syrian children. It would need:

  • installation of air-conditioning in the classroom
  • sending of clothes, games and toys for young children

In Burundi, Jacqueline lives in a village situated 20 kilometres from the nearest town and where there is no electricity. She works in a school. Once again the project has two parts:

  • Installation of solar panels to put electricity in the school which will enable many more opportunities for the teachers
  • Sending of materials to enable education in health and hygiene (soap, tooth paste...); creating a kitchen garden to feed and educate the children; sending of clothes for small children....

After this meeting, we hope to create networks of solidarity and sharing of competences.

These projects will be studied soon; we'll inform you regularly of the follow up. I am sure that we'll know more and discuss it during the ISGF World Conference, so that we can support these women and children who live in such dreadful situations.