As a result of the inauguration in the United Kingdom in 1998, World Refugee Day falls on June 20 every year. In addition, Taiwan hosts "Refugee Week Taiwan" events from June 18 to 22, which are part of a series of ongoing international initiatives. "Compassion: The Moments in Our Lives" is this year's topic. Online seminars and video broadcasts on the subject of refugees are held through creative activities including art, culture, education, and the media.
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620 World Refugee Day invites Cambodian artists to share their experiences in refugee camps.Photo reproduced from Taipei Overseas Peace Service, TOPS
According to the organizers, the neglect, stereotyping, and alienation of shelter seekers will diminish as more people learn about the circumstance and needs of these individuals and as their connections with others rise. So, for this year's Refugee Week Taiwan event, the organizer decided to play three videos describing people's experiences trying to get refuge abroad. Through the videos and sharing, they were able to highlight those moments of terror, hope, and life-altering experiences.
A lecture titled "Brightness of the Arts: A Story Born on the Refugee Camp" was one of them, and it took place on June 20 in the evening. The co-founders of Phare Ponleu Selpak in Cambodia, TOR Vutha and KHOUN Det, were asked to speak about their experiences as refugees under the Khmer Rouge government, the process of starting a theatrical group and an art academy, and their goals.
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The co-founder of Phare Ponleu Selpak in Cambodia, KHOUN Det.Photo reproduced from Phare Ponleu Selpak official website
Hsiao-Chi Chu (朱筱琪) and Chun-Yuan Hu (胡鈞媛), international development professionals, co-founded Refugee Path in 2021. " Refugee Week Taiwan " is an annual event to raise awareness of refugee concerns around Refugee Day.
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