Belgrade, 21 Jun – Honoring World Refugee Day, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, opened the exhibition “What They Took with Them” at the Ethnographic Museum. The exhibition was dedicated to all those who were forced to flee their homes due to wars and persecution. The exhibition was inspired by the video of the same name, produced by UNHCR in collaboration with Branka Katic, a famous Serbian actress and UNHCR High Profile Supporter. The video is available at the following link:
This year’s World Refugee Day marks a dismal milestone as the number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide has passed the staggering figure of 100 million. All those people, no matter where they are coming from, nor what their religious beliefs and political background might be, face the same dilemma when they are forced to leave their previous lives behind them, and embark on journeys into the unknown. What to take with you when you have just a couple of moments to pack in a hurry is a question looming ahead of all refugees and other displaced people, and this very dilemma is the theme of the display at the Ethnographic Museum.
Refugees from former Yugoslavia, the Middle East and Africa, as well as those from Ukraine, responded to UNHCR’s call to lend us the actual objects that they had brought with them into their countries of destination. Hence, visitors to the exhibition will have a chance to see an ivory decorated prayer book and handmade cards for Women’s Day by former refugees from Croatia; a traditional costume and a dress for special occasions from Burundi; as well as Grandma’s perfume and a handmade glass from Ukraine.
The importance of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with refugees and lending them a hand in support in their hour of need has been demonstrated by some local celebrities, such as Rambo Amadeus, Lana Bastasic, the Roma band “Pretty Loud”, and many others. They have provided UNHCR with the objects they believe they would take with them if they were forced to leave their homes overnight, and these objects have also been displayed in the exhibition.
The exhibition “What They Took with Them” is open at the Ethnographic Museum until 30 June.
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