World Refugee Day Events in Idaho

Annual World Refugee Day celebrations will bring Idahoans together this month in Twin Falls and Boise.

Magic Valley Refugee Day in Twin Falls is Friday, June 21, followed by World Refugee Day Boise on Saturday, June 22. Boise’s celebration will include a naturalization ceremony featuring former refugees who are becoming American citizens.
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“First, it's a day to honor and celebrate the lives of refugees as well as our joint efforts on behalf of mankind,” said Joel Ntando, coordinator of the Refugee Speakers Bureau at the Idaho Office for Refugees. “Second, it serves as a reminder that we can considerably alleviate the global refugee issue.”

Since 1975, Idaho’s refugee resettlement program has helped people reestablish themselves where they can live, work, and raise their family in peace. World Refugee Day is an opportunity to celebrate former refugees in Idaho, connect over the beauty of different cultures, foods, and traditions, and stand in solidarity with one another.
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Today, 110 million people around the world are displaced by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or other serious disruptions. World Refugee Day is a celebration for many families and individuals who have found safety and security in Idaho, and it’s also a time to reflect on people who face displacement around the globe. That includes Palestinians in Gaza with nowhere safe to turn, Ukrainians living through another year of war, 4 million children displaced in Sudan, and many others around the world who have been forced to leave their homes and families.

EVENT DETAILS: WORLD REFUGEE DAY
World Refugee Day events are free and open to the public. Come enjoy food, live music, vendor booths, and performances by community members from refugee backgrounds.

• Magic Valley Refugee Day: 6 p.m. Friday, June 21, at the Twin Falls Downtown City Park. Hosted by USCRI Twin Falls with community support.
• World Refugee Day Boise: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 22, at The Grove Plaza in partnership with the Capital City Public Market. Citizenship Ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Hosted by the Idaho Office for Refugees with support from Agency for New Americans, International Rescue Committee in Boise, and Ukrainian Welcome Center.

 
ABOUT: World Refugee Day has been recognized internationally since 2001 on June 20, a day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees and highlight their rights, needs, and dreams. This year’s theme is Solidarity with Refugees. Solidarity means keeping our doors open, celebrating the strengths and achievements of refugees, reflecting on the challenges they face, and seeking solutions to end conflicts so they can return home in safety (UNHCR).
 
THANK YOU to the 2024 sponsors of World Refugee Day Boise: City of Boise, Krazy Coupon Lady Foundation, Boise Cascade, Property People, Albertsons, Valley Regional Transit, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, Pathways of Idaho, and Islamic Center of Boise. 

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