JLI Refugee Hub and KAICIID presented a joint webinar on November 20th. Presenting the recent proceedings, learning briefs and action from the Faith Action for Children on the Move Forum along with a case study from Eastern Europe and role of faith communities in refugee response.
Speakers included:
- Amanda Rives Argeñal, World Vision International,
- JLI Research Director, Dr Olivia Wilkinson,
- KAICIID Fellow, Dr. Aleksandra Djurić Milovanović, from the Institute for Balkan Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The webinar introduced the recent Faith Action for Children on the Move Conference in Rome proceedings and action plan. The Forum Themes were strengthening the Continuum for Child Protection, spiritual support to children and caregivers as a source of healing and resilience and building peaceful societies and combating xenophobia. The Forum coordinators are still taking comments on the action plan until the end of November. For any questions or comments please email [email protected]
The webinar launched the children on the move briefs from the recent Faith Action Forum. See below for links to briefs in English and Italian.
Guest speaker Dr. Milovanović, KAICIID Fellow, focused on the engagement of the faith-based organizations in the Balkans, especially in Serbia, in providing humanitarian aid for the migrants and refugees in the past few years. Alongside other humanitarian organizations, faith-based organizations had significant role in providing assistance for refugees, asylum-seekers and especially for vulnerable categories such are unaccompanied children, minors and women. The level of visibility of the faith-based organizations’ actions is different in each national country. Often, religious communities and their humanitarian organizations engaged in helping refugees take the position of silent, invisible actors. Focusing on response to migration, Dr Aleksandra discussed the issue of multi-religious cooperation in supporting and reception of the migrants and refugees. She also discussed differences in the approach of the faith-based organizations comparing to other humanitarian organizations.
Discussion included questions about faith based organizations response when state said there would be no more support allowed providing refugee aid outside the camps and also is there a means of developing a network so that FBOs are able to make contact when they know a family or individual is moving on? or to simply share information?
Join the next JLI Refugee Hub Meeting on Dec 10 at 2pm GMT (9am ET ).
Related Materials:
Webinar PowerPoint
Children on the Move Learning Briefs (in English and Italian)
