“You simply say, go back to where you came from. I say, I don’t know where that is anymore.” -Behind the Netra
This week we celebrated World Refugee Day to support those across the globe with the courage to flee violence and those with the compassion to welcome them.
By 2016, there were a record number of people (nearly 65.6 million) who were forcibly displaced worldwide, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. And 22.5 million of these refugees have fled internationally to escape violence and persecution.
People fleeing violence often times face dangerous and untenable travel conditions, and once safely settled, survivors must face a multitude of hurdles to be reunited with their families, to find purposeful work, and rebuild their lives.
UpEffect is celebrating these journeys of migration and how they inspire us to speak up for marginalised communities in collaboration with Thraedable and Behind the Netra through the spoken word piece `PASSPORTS.’
Through clothing designed and inspired by the people who that project aims to support, Thraedable’s mission is to amplify marginalised voices and to raise funds for social projects that have substantial and long-term positive impacts. They are an ethical fashion brand, currently producing t-shirts and bags inspired by drawings made by people who face little-told social issues.
Each day thousands of individuals and families must feel persecution and violence. We must stand in solidarity to support refugees and use our voices to ensure these stories are told.
As UN Secretary-General, António Guterre says:
“This not about sharing a burden. It is about sharing a global responsibility, based not only the broad idea of our common humanity but also on the very specific obligations of international law. The root problems are war and hatred, not people who flee; refugees are among the first victims of terrorism.”
When we help others to rise, we rise together! You can support the Thraedable crowdfunding campaign here.
