June 20th marks World Refugee Day which honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
For years, many countries throughout the world marked their own day similar to World Refugee Day until the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to express its solidarity with refugees in 2000. In 2001 the UN adopted June 20 as International Refugee Day. This day was designated by the UN High Commissioner for refugees to bring attention to the plight of approximately 14 million refugees around the world at that time.
This World Refugee Day we reflect on the plight faced by millions of vulnerable people throughout the world who are displaced from their home countries.
At the Marist Centre for Migrants in Thailand, migrant families from Burma (also called Myanmar) are being helped to access education and job training.
The centre is located in Thailand, just outside of Bangkok, in the coastal province of Samut Sakhon. It was established by the Marist Brothers more than six years ago.
The centre provides education to the children of migrants, who are usually denied access to mainstream Thai schools. It also offers young adults, who have been displaced by violence and hardship in their own country, the chance to learn skills and improve their employment options.
Typically, Burmese migrants find work at one of the local fish-processing factories, where they receive very low wages, and suffer very poor living conditions. They are also at risk of becoming ‘stateless’ and entirely losing their connection to their home country.