“Boise and Twin Falls Come Together to Honor World Refugee Day This Weekend” – Idaho Capital Sun

World Refugee Day celebrations are set to take place this weekend in Boise and Twin Falls. Designated by the United Nations, World Refugee Day is celebrated annually on June 20 to honor refugees worldwide. Joel Ntando, coordinator of the Refugee Speakers Bureau at the Idaho Office for Refugees, emphasized that the day is meant to celebrate the lives of refugees and highlight joint efforts to address global refugee issues.

The upcoming events for World Refugee Day are free and open to the public. Attendees can enjoy food, live music, vendor booths, and performances by community members from refugee backgrounds. In Twin Falls, the Magic Valley Refugee Day will be held at Twin Falls Downtown City Park at 6 p.m. on Friday. The event is organized by the U.S. Center for Refugees and Immigrants with support from the community.

In Boise, World Refugee Day celebrations will take place at The Grove Plaza from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The event, in partnership with the Capital City Public Market, will feature a citizenship ceremony for former refugees becoming U.S. citizens at 11 a.m. Organized by the Idaho Office for Refugees, the event will also involve the Agency for New Americans, the International Rescue Committee in Boise, and the Ukrainian Welcome Center.

Globally, 117 million people are displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and other disruptions. This includes populations like Palestinians in Gaza, Ukrainians in conflict zones, and Sudanese children displaced from their homes. Idaho’s resettlement program began in 1975 to receive refugees from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. This year’s celebrations aim to honor the refugees who have since made Idaho their home.