Commemoration of 2021 World Refugee Day and “Together We…” campaign

This year’s World Refugee Day went under the motto “Together we can achieve anything”.

UNHCR and its partner, Mission Armenia NGO, jointly with the host communities and displaced families, organised a series of events with the participation of  displaced children, their parents and teachers, government officials, host communities, the UN Resident Coordinator and representatives of diplomatic missions.

One of the World Refugee Day events took place in Kotayk Regional Pedagogical-Psychological Support Center in Abovyan town.

The Center, which currently hosts 35 displaced families (80 people) from Nagorno-Karabakh, is being renovated and equipped with computers and furniture by Mission Armenia NGO with the funding provided by UNHCR.

In their opening remarks, the government officials and the local authorities expressed their thankfulness to UNHCR for their timely and crucial support to the Armenian Government in delivery of humanitarian assistance and building the capacity of the host communities and the local institutions sheltering and assisting displaced families from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The event granted the participants the opportunity to share the World Refugee Day key messages, learn about achievements and challenges of the host community, talk with the displaced families, enjoy the children’s concert and have a friendly chat with the displaced families and the guests.

The key activity during the World Refugee Day event was an open-air innovative drawing contest for the children with the two themes “My beloved place in my host community” and “Together We…”, by local and displaced children from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The drawing contest brought together a group of displaced and local children who filled the garden with summer cheer and blissful vibes.

The children expressed their thoughts and dreams, and their cherished desires in their lovely drawings on carton boxes to serve them afterwards as their little secret chests for keeping their beloved objects brought from home or given in Armenia.

They drew their new homes, the churches and mountains, trees and flowers, the sun and the blue sky, and their beloved places in Armenia,  Lake Sevan, churches and mountains and their native land, their toys, and favourite objects.

We are inspired by the courage, strength, resilience and determination of refugees across the world, and in Armenia.

Let us also thank displaced children across the world and express our admiration for their eagerness to learn and create, for what they have brought with them and what they gain here, in their new home, Armenia.

We heal together when we all get the care we need.

We learn together when we are all given the chance to study.

We shine together when we play as a team and respect everyone.

“On World Refugee Day, I commend the countries that have welcomed refugees. But we need more support – from States, the private sector, communities and individuals – if we are to move together towards a more inclusive future, free of discrimination.”, the UN Secretary-General, António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres.

On World Refugee Day and every day, we stand together with refugees.