June 20 was designated World Refugee Day (WRD) in 2001, in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of a United Nations convention on refugees organized in 1951. The intent of the original conference was to define who qualifies as a refugee and to delineate the rights of asylum seekers. WRD is an opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of displaced person both worldwide and in our communities.
Few people leave their homes, extended families, and the place that represents their cultural and linguistic heritage unless compelled by poverty or persecution. As citizens of an essentially prosperous country, we have the opportunity to touch the world by assisting its representatives who live among us. A number of well-established organizations in the U.S. coordinate services to refugees and opportunities for volunteers. Here in Eugene, Oregon, the Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County partners with Catholic Community Services to support refugees and immigrants. (Click here for more information.)