Celebrating World Refugee Day 2024 in Philadelphia
World Refugee Day kicked off at the BOK Building Auditorium in South Philly on Thursday, June 20th. Following this years’ theme of “Solidarity with Refugees,” a number of organizations came together to show their support for refugees around the world. We were met by Bethany Christian Services, along with Catholic Social Services, HIAS PA, Nationalities Service Center, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs, who put together this event to demonstrate and discuss the courage and bravery exhibited by refugees who are forced to start their lives anew.
The speakers of the event were welcomed by the voice of city councilmember at large Nina Ahmed, who shared her own story of fleeing the War for Independence in Bangladesh and her relationship with being a refugee in the United States. Following her remarks and words of encouragement, the following speakers sat down for a panel discussion: Fernando Chang-Muy, author and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Rebecca Asch, a licensed art-therapist specializing in therapy for refugees and asylum seekers, and Cherinet Hariffo, a refugee from Ethiopia who fled violence at nine years old and has since been an advocate for refugee rights.
It was inspiring to hear the words from all three panelists, especially Mr. Hariffo, who, at such a young age, endured viscous trauma that no child should ever have to go through. His story and Ms. Rebecca Asch’s profession offered profound insight into the work that goes into supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Asch discussed her experiences working with refugee children, many of whom suffered loss and trauma similar to Cherinet, and it was enlightening to listen to how cautious and rule-breaking her work can be. It’s not uncommon for art therapists to be undermined in the medical community, but Rebecca Asch’s work in helping children process and deal with trauma through artistic endeavors demonstrates immense strength and bravery.
The World Refugee Event finished off with a showing of the film, “The Elephants and the Grass,” which centers on the civil war in South Sudan and a 12-year-old girl’s journey with her mother to safety. As GPA continues its mission to highlight culture, diversity, and a multitude of heritages in Philadelphia, the association highlights the fact that the recognition and support of refugees in the United States remains crucial to harboring safe environments for all people in Philadelphia.
