World Refugee Day: Why It Matters & How You Can Help
Celebrate World Refugee Day 2025 by learning real stories and discovering how you can support displaced communities
Every year, World Refugee Day is commemorated not to dwell on memories of loss or pain, but to pause, to reflect on the unimaginable strength of refugees: the silent heroes without capes or superpowers who have turned their pain into purpose.
It is a day to celebrate the resilience and courage of those who refuse to be defined or labeled by tragedy. Refugees who, even in the face of displacement, have turned language barriers into bridges.
Every year, World Refugee Day is marked on June 20. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight, needs, and human rights of refugees.
A day we celebrate the victory, achievements and impacts of refugees in their communities. A way to tell them: we care, and we are willing to stand with you.
What is World Refugee Day?
Refugees seeking safety after World War II
After World War II, the 1951 UN Refugee Convention was held to define the rights of refugees and the obligations of states toward them. In 2001, World Refugee Day was officially established by the United Nations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that landmark agreement.
The State Of The Global Refugee Crisis
According to the UNHCR, 1 in every 67 people on Earth is currently displaced. Alarmingly, children and youth make up around 40% of that number. The refugee population has risen drastically, increasing by 160% in the past decade.
Conflicts and wars have always been the primary causes of displacement. Some of the most significant humanitarian crises in modern history include the Hungarian Exodus, Indochina Wars, and the Cuban Revolution, among many others.
From 2014 to 2024, the global refugee population jumped from 14.4 million to 37.9 million, and the numbers continue to rise. These statistics include not only those who cross borders but also internally displaced persons and asylum seekers.
Nearly two-thirds of all refugees come from just four countries: Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. Others have fled from countries like Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Gaza, Ethiopia, and Haiti.
69% of refugees settle in neighboring countries, while 71% are hosted in low- and middle-income nations, places that already struggle with scarce resources. A concerted effort from governments, individuals, and advocates is needed to bridge this growing gap.
Current Large-scale Refugee Crises
- Syria (civil war since 2011): Over 6.3 million people have been displaced, fleeing to neighboring countries in the Middle East and Europe.
- Ukraine (since 2022): Since the skies first roared with war jets, nearly 6.9 million Ukrainians have sought refuge across Europe.
- Sudan (civil war since April 2023): More than 10 million Sudanese have been internally displaced, and 1.8 million have fled to neighboring countries.
- Venezuela (economic and political crises): By 2025, over 7 million Venezuelans have fled due to instability.
Refugees Who Changed Their Worlds
We celebrate those who overcame frustrating circumstances to give their families a chance at freedom. They carry not just memories of what was left behind but visions of a beautiful future they are determined to build.
This World Refugee Day, we don’t just ask the world to see them. We ask the world to listen
1. Abdul Jarour – The BrazSyrian Warrior
“I am a BrazSyrian: Brazilian Syrian!” Abdul now proudly declares, more than a decade after fleeing the crisis in his native Syria.
When Abdul heard about the special humanitarian visas Brazil was offering to Syrian refugees, he fled to neighboring Lebanon and applied. Granted the visa, he began to dream of a new life across the shores of the Middle East. Brazil’s open asylum policy allowed him to rebuild quickly.
Less than a year later, Abdul had learned fluent Portuguese and secured a day job as a legal assistant at the State Public Prosecutor’s Office. Today, he leads a nonprofit organization that advocates for refugees and migrants in Brazil.
2. Abdulaziz Lugazo – A Farmer with A Difference
In 1990, Abdulaziz fled his home in Somalia. Unsure of what opportunities awaited across the border, he left behind the only life he had known growing up and working on his family’s farm.
Kenya’s inclusive policies in Kakuma gave him the chance to revive his passion and contribute meaningfully to society and he succeeded.
Today, Abdulaziz leads a farmers’ cooperative that grows drought-resistant crops, supplying his community with fresh produce and using his skills to support his family and rebuild a life of purpose.
3. Yusra and Sara Mardini – Olympic Swimmer & Refugee Heroes
In 2015, Syrian sisters Yusra and Sara fled war-torn Damascus for Germany. Their journey took 25 gruelling days, battled with the heat and cold, discrimination and uncertainty, hunger, and the constant shadow of death.
When their overcrowded boat stalled in the chilly waters of the Aegean Sea, Yusra and Sara, both skilled swimmers, jumped into the water and towing fellow refugees to safety. For over two hours, they swam, their minds focused on just one thing: survival.
Yusra later went on to compete in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and won. Today, both sisters use their voices to advocate for refugee rights, using their story to highlight the plight of displaced people and the monumental impact refugees can make in society when given access to opportunities.
The Role of International Organizations
Refugee family smiling and bonding, showcasing resilience and community rebuilding
Now, more than ever, refugees need sustained support. Limited access to food, healthcare, and education means survival itself is at stake. Organizations like UNHCR, UNICEF, and WHO have been instrumental in providing emergency relief, healthcare, education, legal aid, and training.
But these efforts, while commendable, are not enough.
Aid workers providing food and medical support in a refugee camp
This is where NGOs, civil societies, and community volunteers become lifelines. By offering support, care, and aid, these groups play a vital role in helping refugees not just survive but rebuild their lives.
This is why Creshendo exists because we believe in an unshakable truth: every human being deserves a sense of belonging. We believe in the power of human resilience and stand with refugees to help them rediscover purpose and dignity.
A Call for Solidarity
Diverse hands joined in solidarity, representing global unity with refugees
Decades ago, we talked of World Wars and watched as nations struggled to recover. When the peace treaty was signed in 1945, it felt like a final note on global violence. But today, that peace is fragile. Some countries have returned to brute force, chaos, and civilian unrest.
The repercussions fall on innocent civilians, whose families are torn apart, their homes destroyed and lives uprooted.
Many refugees have said goodbye to loved ones without knowing if they would ever see them again. While we may not have the power to end all wars, we do possess a more potent force that can change lives: kindness.
And you can wield it too.
4 Powerful Ways You Can Stand with Refugees:
1. Advocacy
Use your voice and platform to share refugee stories and raise awareness.
2. Volunteering
Lend your time, skills, and expertise to organizations working on the frontlines.
3. Donation
Support programs that equip refugees with tools and skills to integrate into society and provide for their families.
4. Promote Economic Inclusion
Hire refugees, contract their services, or support refugee-owned businesses. Economic inclusion helps restore dignity, fosters independence, and contributes to local economies.
Tomorrow, It Could Be Your Country at War
Refugees carry with them stories of pain, loss, courage, and unimaginable strength. But they are not merely aid seekers they are doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and students. They did not choose to be displaced, nor do they wish to be defined by it.
They bring innovation, diversity, and new energy to the communities they settle in.
On this World Refugee Day, under the theme “Finding Freedom, Diversity in Community,” we stand in solidarity with refugees across the globe.
We see you.
We feel your pain.
And we are committed to helping you reclaim your freedom.
