Dear Refugee Support family,
Happy New Year to you all!
I hope you had a fantastic and relaxing Christmas at home with family.
Unfortunately for many, the festive period was not as loving and comfortable as many of ours were. Over Christmas, the UK saw 40 migrants smuggled across the English Channel on Christmas Day. In the US, an eight year old boy died after being separated from his father at US Customs and Border Protection, just weeks after a seven year old girl also perished whilst being retained.
The stories of sorrow seemed to come thick and fast over 2018, and sadly, they show little signs of abating in 2019.
But as ever, it is important to remember that it is our duty as human beings to help those who are in danger whilst we are safe.
This year, one of my resolutions is to make 2019 the year that I not only stand in solidarity with refugees, but the year that I try to teach others to be kinder towards them.
It’s easy to sing with the choir, but it can be hard and upsetting to stand up to people who seem so filled with hatred towards refugees.
Unfortunately though, it’s the only way to change people’s minds.
So this year, I mean to make a better effort reminding those who are hostile towards refugees that no body chooses to be displaced.
And this is what I’m going to tell them:
To all those who are concerned that refugees are ‘taking over’ ‘your’ country:
Don’t be.
If you’ll take the time to check out our empowerment fund and our standing with refugees podcasts, you’ll learn that many refugees are highly skilled, hardworking, and compassionate.
Many refugees who have fled to ‘your’ country have fought the natural elements and won, often whilst caring for several young children. Could you do that? Because I certainly couldn’t.
Although ‘refugees” or “migrants’ may have made their journeys on foot, or even by rafts built by their bare hands, they have been pushed, not pulled, to take a perilous journey from their homelands to hostile, alien countries. They deserve safety, not further brutality at your hands.
So please try to be kind in 2019 and put yourself in the shoes of a refugee for a moment. After all, anyone can become a refugee at a moment’s notice.
We’d love for you to join the Refugee Support family. Why don’t you take a look at some of our projects and refugee stories to find our what we’re doing to help, and why we’re doing it? If you’re still unsure, you can speak to one of our volunteers or get in touch with us directly.
To our Refugee Support family, I hope you’ll join me in sticking your neck out a little more for refugees this year.
Wishing you all a very happy new year,
Chloe
RS Express editor
