What Is a Displaced Person and How Do People Become Refugees?

In this class we will define some of the terms for forcibly displaced people: refugees, internally displaced people and asylum seekers. We will look at the refugee highway; a well worn path people travel in search of safety and peace, identifying some of the countries where major refugee populations come from and top refugee hosting nations.

I will share stories of people I know who have walked the Refugee Highway, stories from my personal experiences teaching English to Afghans in a refugee camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece (under the governance of the United Nations) and stories of hosting new families in my own home. 

Through storytelling students are invited to imagine what the journey of a refugee might look and feel like. An environment of discussion will be created to allow students the opportunity to ask questions. 

We will read, "Stepping Stones, A Refugee Family's Journey" written by Margaret Ruurs, who witnessed the refugee crisis while living in Europe. Artwork for this book is by Nizar Ali Badr who lives in Syria. Nizar has not left Syria, but says his heart is with the many Syrians who have been forced to flee his homeland. We will also read, "Four Feet Two Sandals" by Karen Lynn Williams. This book tells of life in a refugee camp in Pakistan from the perspective of two 10 year old Afghani girls. 

We will mention some of histories famous humanitarians like: Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Schindler and Elizabeth Fry.

Class will end with students being encouraged to welcome the stranger living among them. One in every 78 people in this world is forcibly displaced and 67% of these are women and children. Many of these people feel unseen. Suggestions for how to welcome the stranger are from the UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency.