No One fled from Peace – HWPL Georgia World Refugee Day Commemoration
June 20th of every year is “World Refugee Day”. This day is a meaningful day to remember the suffering of refugees who have lost their homes due to war, persecution, and disasters, and to share the responsibility for refugee protection in the international community. Various international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee, also actively carry out campaigns and support activities to highlight the rights and lives of refugees on this day.
The HWPL Georgia branch has been regularly donating to refugees in Clarkston, Georgia, every year. Clarkston is a small city about 10 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. Since the 1980s, it has accepted thousands of refugees from over 40 countries, including Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is known as one of the “most diverse areas in the United States.” Clarkston, known as a city of hope and recovery, also faces various structural difficulties, such as food insecurity, language barriers, and lack of stable jobs.
HWPL Georgia Branch conducted a donation service activity with partner organizations to commemorate World Refugee Day.
On Saturday, June 21, HWPL conducted a service activity with high school student volunteers from its partner organization, Threads of Hope, targeting 136 refugees. Threads of Hope is a high school student-led volunteer group that aims to solve the clothing shortage problem. Together with HWPL, they organized and collected about 2,000 pieces of clothing and delivered them to the refugees. In addition, HWPL’s peace education was provided to refugee children on site, providing educational value and an opportunity for emotional healing beyond simple material support. Then, on Sunday, June 22, RLC, an organization that signed an MOU with HWPL, prepared warm food and provided it to 31 refugees, and many refugees expressed their deep gratitude.
HWPL Georgia Branch plans to continue providing practical support for refugees who have left their home countries due to war and conflict, while also continuously expanding activities to raise understanding and awareness of refugees within the local community.
