UNHCR and Canadian Embassy in Kuwait organize an awareness event for children on displacement
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait, organized an event for children aiming to raise awareness about displacement through storytelling, and coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The event took place at the ‘Americani Cultural Center’ and included a reading by H.E. Aliya Mawani, Ambassador of Canada to Kuwait, of ‘My Beautiful Birds’, a book by Canadian author Suzanne Del Rizzo, which tells the story of a young Syrian refugee boy who finds comfort and hope through his connection with birds, despite the hardships he faces during his displacement journey to flee the conflict in Syria.
The event aimed to foster compassion and inspire awareness and discussion amongst the participating children, teaching them about the resilience and courage of those who endure conflict and displacement.
In addition, the children engaged in interactive activities related to the story designed to immerse them in the narrative and foster a deeper connection to the experiences of refugee children.
Nisreen Rubaian, UNHCR Representative in Kuwait, emphasized the event’s significance, emphasized that in light of the increasing conflicts and forced displacement ravaging our region and the world, this storytelling session provides a powerful way to introduce children to the experiences of forcibly displaced people in a manner that is both accessible and inspiring.
Rubaian further stressed that the book, My Beautiful Birds embodies the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity. Today’s event will leave a lasting impact on the young attendees, nurturing empathy and understanding in the coming generation of leaders.
Ambassador Mawani shared her thoughts, noting that ‘Empathy is crucial if we are to solve the conflicts raging throughout our world today. Our perspective always changes when we put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. We hope that this moving story of a refugee child’s journey will inspire young audience to think about how they can play a role in creating a hopeful future and supporting those who may be struggling to redefine home.
The 16 Days of Activism is an international annual campaign supported by the United Nations which runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December, Human Rights Day, of each year.
