This Week in Refugee News- August 11, 2017

Each week we collect the most interesting, inspiring and innovative refugee stories from around the world to share with you. Here are this week’s picks:

Born in a Refugee Camp, She’s Now Flying Solo Around the World (via CNN)

Shaesta Waiz was born in a refugee camp. She was a teenager the first time she remembers being on a plane and now she’s poised to circumnavigate the globe, making 18 stops along the way.

She hopes her trip will “inspire girls and young women worldwide to dream big and achieve more,” especially in the fields of science, math, engineering and aviation.

Waiz too is still dreaming. She wants to open a STEM school for girls in her native Afghanistan “so that young girls can go somewhere and use their talents.” Read more about her incredible journey.

For One South Sudanese Mother, the Little Things Mean Everything (via USA for UNHCR)

Every day, mothers like Opani risk dangerous journeys with their families to escape violence in their towns and villages. They often flee with little more than the clothes they are wearing.

A simple shelter provides safety and hope for Opani and her daughter

Thanks to USA for UNHCR donors, Opani and her daughter are safe and receiving the care they need. Learn more about her hope for a better future.

Children’s Authors Take On the Refugee Crisis (via New York Times)

Want to talk to your kids about the refugee crisis but don’t know how to start the conversation?

Fortunately, a number of children’s book authors have taken raising awareness about the refugee crisis to heart.

“I wanted to make individual refugees visible and turn statistics into names and faces that kids could relate to,” said Alan Gratz, author of the book “Refugee” about a family that flees Aleppo, Syria.

There are more than a dozen new and forthcoming books that cover the crisis for all ages and reading levels.

Western Union Foundation Launches the “#IAmMore” Campaign (via Western Union Foundation)

Did you know you can support refugees simply by changing your Facebook profile picture?

The Western Union Foundation is challenging people to support refugees in a novel way – for every person who swaps their Facebook profile picture with a refugee’s profile picture, Western Union will donate $1 to support programs that empower refugees.

Go to the campaign website, read the incredible stories of refugees from around the world, and swap your profile with one of them to raise funds and awareness!

Starbucks Held a Career Fair for Refugees in California (via Global Citizen)

This week, Starbucks held a career fair for refugees in Southern California as the American coffee company continues to make good on its 2015 commitment to hire 10,000 refugees by 2022.

Starbucks is no stranger to supporting refugees. They formally endorsed the UN Refugee Agency’s #WithRefugees campaign in 2015 and partner in the Tent Partnership for Refugees, an effort to scale up support for refugees worldwide.

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