In marking the World Refugee Day 2024, Alshaya Group’s leisure and entertainment brands KidZania and Quest partnered with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in shedding light on the importance of showcasing solidarity #WithRefugees. Aligning with the theme, a solidarity day was dedicated for the children whom UNHCR care for, noting that almost half the displaced population globally are children. A total of 35 children of all age groups and their families participated in the dedicated solidarity day.
“Our entertainment brands play an important role in supporting the communities we operate in, and we are honouredto be part of UNHCR’s World Refugee Day events in Kuwait, focusing on raising awareness and supporting displaced people,” said Fernando Medroa- Vice President-Entertainment – Alshaya Group.
The UNHCR Kuwait Representative Nisreen Rubaian highlighted: “We chose to mark this day today with the children being our voice to raise awareness and call for solidarity with the cause. Stemming from the shocking statistics launched as part of UNHCR global trends report, that estimate by the end of 2023, of the 120 million forcibly displaced people, an estimated 47 million (40 per cent) are children below 18 years of age”.
Almost half of the world’s refugees are children. Many will spend their entire childhoods away from home, sometimes separated from their families. But children are incredibly resilient. By learning, playing, and exploring their skills, they can find ways to cope, drawing strength from their families and communities surrounding them. “Initiatives like this joint collaboration we have today between UNHCR along its Kuwaiti partners and communities like KidZania, Quest and others, can make them feel welcomed and included, and they will carry this beautiful memory throughout their journey,” added Ms.Rubaian.
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20th, with the aim of bringing attention to rights, needs and dreams of those forced to flee.
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