World Refugee Day 2020 Blog

Message from Fillipo Grandi during the WRD2020

On #WorldRefugeeDay, we celebrate and honour refugees across the world. You never cease to inspire us.

From the UN High Commissioner for Refugees @FilippoGrandi to you: pic.twitter.com/eT7Y7y0GAu

— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) June 20, 2020

Bahati Ernestine , a refugee living in Kenya talks about the importance of education for refugees

"I'm representing 1% of refugee #youth who have access to tertiary education. On #RefugeeDay, I urge us all to think about #refugees: how are they doing, how are they learning? Let's think how much change #education can bring" UN Volunteer Bahati Ernestine @UNHCR_Kenya @UNV_ESARO pic.twitter.com/7SywZdDhUA

— UN Volunteers (@UNVolunteers) June 20, 2020

UNHCR Kenya’s exciting virtual event to mark WRD2020

We are live on Facebook to mark the #WorldRefugeeDay https://t.co/dFiJ7WPlaD #WithRefugees

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 19, 2020

The Pastor, Djuna Alois, is Kenya’s hero in this video of heroes

The Pastor, Djuna Alois is indeed our hero in #Kenya.#WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay https://t.co/reNL1QTNwd

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 19, 2020

12 year old Lorena sent a message to Nhial Deng, who shared his day at the Kakuma

Do you remember @NhialGD who kindly shared his day in the #Kakuma refugee camp this week?

12 year-old Lorena was so inspired by his day and decided to send him a message.

PLEASE WATCH ⬇️#WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay @refugees pic.twitter.com/rfLXoGXbHI

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 19, 2020

To mark the World Refugee Day, Nhial Deng, a refugee from South Sudan who lives in Kakuma Kenya, took over UNHCR Krenya’s social media accounts to share his life. Follow his take over right here

Hello! 👋

My name is Nhial Deng (@NhialGD), a refugee living in #Kakuma Camp.

Today, I am taking over @UNHCR_Kenya social media channels to show you what my daily life looks like in the camp.

Do join me! #WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/9jEf0mHQpk

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

My day starts with meditation

My (@NhialGD) day start @ 5:45 am.

I meditate for 15 minutes, refresh, and cross-check my schedules for the day.

Keeping a routine helps me to stay active and in good mental health especially in times like these when there is a lot of anxiety. #WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/YchAcKqbsy

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Study time

I @NhialGD study for 1.5 hours in the morning.
I am enrolled in 2 courses: Journalism at @filmaidkenya & Business Management at Cambridge International College via Help Dadaab.
Education enables me to look towards a future filled with hopes. #WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/eZ59p3Ejyx

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Breakfast time!

Breakfast time! 🕘

Today is a lucky day for me @NhialGD ! I am having bread (Ethiopian Himbasha) + butter, banana, and Kenyan tea for breakfast. 😋

Most refugee families living in camps including myself normally have only one meal a day. #WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/wC0ZXb6Vau

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Walk to the market

I, @NhialGD, take a walk to the market almost everyday.#Kakuma markets are diverse, busy, & rich in commodities. The camp is a vibrant city on its own. There are 2000+ refugee owned businesses. The camp + Kakuma Town has an annual economy of $56.2 million. @KattanDanya @IFC_org pic.twitter.com/sel2Y0ATav

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Mode of transport

Motorbikes (Boda Boda) are the common mode of transport in the camp
There are 10,000+ motorbikes in #Kakuma helping move goods & the 190,000+ refugees and asylum seekers from place to place in the camp

Given a chance, refugees can thrive & help local economies grow #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/ToVlQGpGUB

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Lunch time!

Lunchtime! 🕜

Today, I am having kisra +yellow split pea for lunch-so delicious! @NhialGD

Kisra is a thin fermented bread which is very popular among the South Sudanese Communities. More than half of the refugees in #Kakuma are from South Sudan#WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/quIgX4ohnb

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Refugees fighting the spread of COVID-19

How are refugees helping stop the spread of #COVID19?

@NhialGD am working with my vibrant team: Refugee Youth Peace Ambassadors to create awareness about COVID-19 in #Kakuma via posters and digital education.

Refugees businesses across the camp are producing masks and soaps. pic.twitter.com/6e8ap4RDhX

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Favourite activities

Reading+writing are some of my @NhialGD's favourite activities

I have a long list of books to read although I have ltd access in the camp. So far, my favourite book in 2020 is @MichelleObama's BECOMING

And yes! I am also writing a book about my struggles and hopes.#WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/mOXBprWwqF

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Leisure time

Leisure time! 🕞 Playing cards with kids!

@NhialGD always try to spend some time with kids at least once a week. 50% of refugees worldwide are children.

These kids have lost a lot in life and they all look towards a future filled with hopes.

For every child, quality education! pic.twitter.com/nyJHwF0wZG

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Verifying information

Verify before you click @NhialGD!
Every day, I spend one hour in the evening on WhatsApp & the internet verifying some of the information circulating in the camp & debunking rumours about #COVID19
In #Kakuma, rumours cause panic among the refugee host communities#WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/oASHbjvRn4

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

I love running!

Running🏃‍♂️time @NhialGD!
I run 4km on the Lodwar-Loki Rd 4x a week to stay fit. The best part is although you don't imagine meeting an Olympic Athlete on the way, I often do! #Kakuma refugee atheletes made history in the 2016 Rio Olympics & are going 4 the medals next Olympics. pic.twitter.com/SOyiAvTQ39

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

Solidarity

How do you feel during these trying times? This is how #refugees feel almost every day.

How do we overcome? By sharing kindness. Everyone you come across in #Kakuma is always smiling.

What the world needs the most now is solidarity. We can only win this fight together @NhialGD pic.twitter.com/d6x3m8ThqS

— UNHCR KENYA (@UNHCR_Kenya) June 16, 2020

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