The University of Barcelona commemorates the World Refugee Day with participants from its support program
On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, on June 20, the University of Barcelona promotes the sensitivization project #UBRefugi, on social networks.
On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, on June 20, the University of Barcelona promotes the sensitivization project #UBRefugi, on social networks.
This campaign is based on testimonials from some of the youngsters that have participated since 2016 in the Course of transition to university, organized, in an agreement with the Barcelona City Council, within the Support Program of the University of Barcelona for refugees and people coming from conflict areas, coordinated by UB Solidarity Foundation.
#UBRefugi aims to bring people closer to the reality of the sheltering process: hopes and fears of people who had to leave their country to get back a part of their life, sawed-off by war. “Before coming here, Barcelona, I had high hopes and fears”, says one of the students. “Me being here does not mean I am far from war. My memories, family, my friends… they are in Syria”, says another student. “I came here to be a good person, able to help their people”, tells a student.
Events in “Barcelona, ciutat refugi”
The University of Barcelona is also taking part in the events of the World Refugee Day, in the Catalan capital city, with the plan “Barcelona, ciutat refugi” by the Barcelona City Council. In particular, the ones in charge of this activity and UB Solidarity Foundation have organized, on June 21 in Zona Nord Library, the conference “Què fem davant la crisi del refugi?” and, from June 27 to July 14 in Centre Cívic Zona Nord, the photograph exhibition “Mare Nostrum. Europa davant la crisi del refugi”. Both activities will take place in the district of Nou Barris, in Barcelona, where the University of Barcelona is carrying out, since 2014, a socioeducational intervention program.
Conference of the European project inHERE
Within the European project inHERE (Higher Education Supporting Refugees in Europe), the University of Barcelona will organize, on July 7 2017, in the room Ramon y Cajal in the Historical Building, the conference “El paper de les universitats en la crisi del refuge”. There will be welcome actions for refugees carried out by Spanish universities and they will debate on the most important elements for these peopleʼs access and integration to higher education.
Good university practices
The UB support program for refugees has been choosen by the European Universities Association (EUA) to be part of the catalogue Refugee Welcome Map, which identifies good practices in the higher education institutions, and related organizations, worldwide.
Also, the UB support program is one of the two experiences of access to university studies selected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to be presented in the conference on refugee welcoming and integration. During the meeting, held on June 14 in the Instituto Cervantes de Madrid, the director of UB Solidarity Foundation, Xavier López, and two of the students of the transition course, were received by the United Nations High Comissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.