On this day, we remember a population of more than 68 million people who have been forced to leave their homes, families, jobs and dreams, fearing for their lives and those of their families.
Today, on World Refugee Day, the High Commissioner Filippo Grandi brings home the sad reality of a situation which has not improved since last year, instead only getting worse.

“As conflicts emerge, recur, persist and deepen, 68.5 million people are uprooted around the world. Nine out of 10 are in their own countries or countries next door, and the impact is massive – on refugees themselves, and on the communities that open their doors to them. Now, more than ever, taking care of refugees must be a global – and shared – responsibility. It’s time to do things differently.”

However, even in the face of a deterioration in the situation, we must continue the struggle – with hope for further involvement of more countries and society in general in favour of refugees. No one chooses to be a refugee.
We need to keep our arms open wide, with more compassion and less fear, in a more intentional and less reactionary way. We need to remember that we’re all part of the same humanity and that these refugees are people just like us, men, women and children, our equals.
You can be part of the renewal of hope, by finding organisations working with refugees, getting involved, participating, sharing, taking part in the welcome and integration of refugees. This is the only way we can face and overcome this crisis.
By André Leitão, Executive President of Compassiva

Taking advantage of the celebrations this week, how about supporting a Syrian refugee’s start-up?
Joanna Ibrahim has been in Brazil since 2015 and developed Bab Sharki in 2016. The start-up was created with the objective of generating opportunities for refugees and immigrants, collaborating collectively in different sectors and markets.
One of Bab Sharki’s projects is Open Taste – a restaurant shared between refugees and immigrants which allows clients to taste and get to know a different cuisine every Friday. It’s a trip around the world without taking a step!
This Friday, the gastronomic trip around the world will take us to Venezuela. It’s definitely worth trying! Here’s the link to the event here.
House of Food
Rua Dr. Virgílio de Carvalho Pinto, 57
Pinheiros – São Paulo/SP
To find out more: joanna@bluefieldsdev.com