World Refugee Day
Today, June 20, is World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the UN to honor refugees around the globe and the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country in order to escape conflict or persecution. Many of our Peace Catalyst team peacebuilders work in partnership with refugees, and today we have some resources and ways to move toward solidarity with refugees from Jennie Telfer. Jennie mobilizes people for practical solidarity across lines of difference through peace education, advocacy, and humanitarian engagement and collaborates with Trauma Rescue Aid (TRAID), a grassroots, Sudanese refugee-led peacebuilding organization providing mental & physical health care, food support, and other forms of tangible aid to Sudanese families who fled the war in Sudan.
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This month, I’ve joined We Choose Welcome to walk in solidarity with immigrants and refugees.
I set out to walk 3.1 miles (5 km) each day for a total of 93 miles (155 km) in the month of June. Maybe I will walk less, but maybe I will walk more!
I’ve asked my friends to donate any amount they choose per mile/kilometer that I walk – maybe 25 cents, $1, $2, or even more! June is almost over now, but if you’d like, you can walk in solidarity and raise money with me!
The money we raise will provide food assistance to Sudanese refugee families through a Sudanese, refugee-led organization called Trauma Rescue Aid that my husband Malik and my dear friends began back in 2024 (here’s a webinar I did with them back in February). My goal for the month is to raise $4,000, which is enough to provide corn flour for one month for the more than 700 refugee families who have registered for food assistance.
Not everyone can donate or join me in walking this month, but maybe all of us could learn a bit more about the challenges immigrants and refugees face in our world today. If you look, there are probably local opportunities for you to learn and connect with organizations who are serving immigrants and refugees in your community. Solidarity isn’t abstract—it’s embodied in personal relationships—so I pray for deepening relationships across divisions so we can understand each other, connect as human beings and friends, and collaborate together for the common good.
Resources and ways to be in solidarity
Do you want to walk in solidarity? Our steps are not just symbolic, they are a reminder that although we walk by choice, many walk to survive. You can join the walk here.
Want to focus on learning for now? We Choose Welcome has compiled a fantastic collection of resources, including:
FAQs about things like the difference between refugees and asylum seekers, the U.S. immigration system, and how we can protect migrant children from trafficking
Free downloadable guides for navigating conversations about immigration and refugees and for balancing the teachings of Jesus with the practical issues of the day
A compilation of recommended books, podcasts, videos and more from both immigrants themselves as well as non-immigrants
Want to connect with local organizations? A simple search for “refugee support organizations near me” or “immigrant mutual aid (your city)” should do the trick.
As I walk, I will be praying for the well-being of immigrant friends and family displaced by war. Please pray with me.
This blog was originally posted at https://seedswillgrow.com/2026/06/02/walk-in-solidarity-with-refugees/.
Follow more of Jennie’s work at https://seedswillgrow.com/
