Celebrate World Refugee Day!
This year, instead of just one day, we are having World Refugee WEEK.
Starting Sunday, June 14 and ending on World Refugee Day – Saturday, June 20, join us for ideas of how to celebrate and honor our refugee neighbors.
Here’s how it works:
Download your checklist and complete the daily challenge, then share with us how it went!
Each day we will announce the challenge, share stories from our staff, and re-post from our followers on Facebook and Instagram.
Tag @arriveministries or use the hashtag #worldrefugeeweek to engage with us. And invite your family, kids, or church members to participate too.
Thanks for joining with us as we continue to welcome and love our refugee and immigrant neighbors!
Talk with my refugee friend
Day 1: Sunday 6/14
During this season of social distance, all of us are experiencing some level of loneliness. Today, we encourage you to simply talk with your refugee or immigrant neighbor. Connect by phone, video, or stop by for a socially-distant chat. For more ideas on ways to connect, visit our Covid-19 resource page.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another, and build each other up!”
Share with us about your friend: How long have you known each other? How does he/she encourage you? @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Watch a film or read a book about the refugee experience
Day 2: Monday 6/15
One of our core values at Arrive Ministries is “learning from each other.” Our desire is to foster friendships of mutual learning and empowerment as we share our lives with our new neighbors.
Today we are asking you to be a learner by watching a film or reading a book about the refugee experience. There are many films and books to choose from, but here are a few that we recommend:
Films
click to watch trailers
Books
What did you read or watch? Share with us! @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Order takeout from an immigrant-owned restaurant
Day 3: Tuesday 6/16
It’s Takeout Tuesday! Whether your favorite local spot or someplace new, today’s the day to support an immigrant-owned restaurant! Some of our staff favorites include:
Minneapolis:
- Marhaba Grill – South Minneapolis
- Gorkha Palace – NE Minneapolis
- Harry Singh’s Caribbean Restaurant – South Minneapolis
- Emily’s Lebanese Delicatessan – NE Minneapolis
- Daalo Hilaac Restaurant – South Minneapolis
- Taqueria La Hacienda – Minneapolis, Richfield, Burnsville
- Safari Restaurant – South Minneapolis (currently closed due to Covid-19, but check them out when they reopen!)
- Union Hmong Kitchen – NE Minneapolis
- Hamdi Restaurant – South Minneapolis
St. Paul:
- Friends Cafe – Roseville
- On’s Kitchen – St. Paul
- Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant – Snelling Ave, St. Paul
- El Burrito Mercado – St. Paul
North Metro:
- Filfillah Mediterranean Grill – Columbia Heights
South Metro:
- Taqueria La Hacienda – Minneapolis, Richfield, Burnsville
- Tawakal Restaurant – Burnsville
Rochester:
- Muna Halal
- Nile Restaurant
St. Cloud:
Willmar:
- FaaFan Restaurant
- Somali Star Restaurant
What is your favorite immigrant-owned restaurant? Where did you order from? Share with us! @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Partner with Arrive Ministries by
giving or volunteering
Day 4: Wednesday 6/17
Thank you for your partnership as we live out our mission to welcome refugees and immigrants by: providing direct program services, mobilizing the Church, and calling our communities to respond biblically.
Your partnership allows us to continue the important work that we do!
Visit our Volunteer page to learn how you can get involved
Visit our Donate Financially or Donate Items pages to learn how you can give
Do you already volunteer with us? Share what you have learned in the process by tagging @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Learn a phrase in the language of my refugee friend
Day 5: Thursday 6/18
Another great way to honor our refugee and immigrant neighbors is to learn a phrase or a few words in their language.
The best way to is to learn from them, if they are willing to teach you! Start by asking if there are any common phrases that are used often by their friends and family. Then practice practice practice!
We also have videos in Arabic, Pashto, Somali, and Karen available at our LINK webinar page (scroll to Week 4).
How did it go? What phrase did you learn? Share a video with us by tagging @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Research the history of a refugee population living in my city
click to download Iceberg Concept of Culture
Day 6: Friday 6/19
Did you know that Minnesota has some of the largest refugee-background populations in the world?
These include people originally from: Somalia, Burma, Liberia, Bhutan, Laos, Ethiopia, and Former Soviet Union. But, there are many, many more!
Your challenge today is to learn about the history of a people. Some themes you can research include:
- Aspects of their culture
- Geography, natural resources, landscape of the country
- Politics and social systems in place
- War and reason for fleeing
For a general overview and lots of statistics visit UNHCR.
What did you learn? Share with us! @arriveministries, #worldrefugeeweek
Share with someone why I love refugees
Day 7: Saturday 6/20
Today is World Refugee Day!
The challenge today is simple: share with someone why you love refugees.
Share with us! Tag @arriveministries or using the hashtag #worldrefugeeweek
