June 20th is World Refugee Day

I am so lucky and privileged to live in a country that is not threatened by war. My children are safe, have access to good education and have their human rights supported and protected. Not everyone is so lucky. Many people in the world live under the daily threat of war, violence or poverty. When home is no longer safe, many people make the impossible decision to risk their family’s lives by seeking refugee abroad. Some of them make it, many don’t. Just this week, hundreds of people lost their lives when the boat they were travelling in sank: “All the women died, drowned, with their children in their arms”.

I recorded this conversation with Caoimhe Butterly a few months ago as part of the Shapes Of Grief online Training Programme. I also want to make it freely available as a podcast episode, so that it can be spread far and wide. If you have refugees living in your community, are you helping them to find the safety, refuge and kindness that they deserve? I’m not one to quote Jesus, but there’s a first time for everything, right? this quote, feels especially apt “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.