On the occasion of World Refugee Day (June 20), we wanted to take the time and space to highlight the stories and challenges of refugees, their families and of the people helping them. Many times, asylum seekers and refugees are numbers, statistics in a report, labels that people use to categorize, to politicize or to demonize. The goal with this event was to correct that narrative and to bring to the forefront the lived experiences of refugees, to raise awareness about the impact of COVID-19 on the legal process, on the living conditions and on the mental health.

We’re grateful to Heather Staff, executive member of Christians on the Left (UK) and policy advisor on asylum and immigration issues for moderating this virtual event. It was enlightening to hear from Shayan and Donya- artists, humanitarians and refugee family living in Croatia; from Claudia Bonamini- Jesuit Refugee Service policy advisor and from pastor Timo Keskitalo- Finnish pastor with experience working among refugees and displaced people.