January 10, 2008

Dear Educator,

Teachers' Corner brings the latest refugee news from around the world to your classroom. The UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) E-alert is created for educators like you who are teaching about refugees, human rights, and tolerance. In this update:

1. Clowns Help Iraqi Refugee Children Overcome Trauma
2. UNHCR Photo Exhibitions
3. Online Survey
4. News to Use in the Classroom

1. Clowns help Iraqi refugee children overcome trauma

Red noses and silliness have popped up in recent months at UNHCR centers across Damascus, Syria, bringing some laughter and happiness to young Iraqis suffering from the traumas of life as refugees.

As part of its "Back to School" campaign for Iraqi refugee children, the clown shows focus on informing parents and children that all Iraqi children have the right to attend school. UNHCR asked the independent international group, Clowns Without Borders, to review the first show and offer further training to the Iraqi clowns.

"We know that one in five refugees that register with UNHCR are victims of violence or torture in Iraq," said UNHCR Representative in Damascus Laurens Jolles. "This means that many families, particularly children, are traumatized when they come to us. The clowns offer a rare opportunity for parents and children to smile during the otherwise very difficult experience of registering with UNHCR."

At a community center in Seida Zeinab, one of the main Iraqi refugee areas in Damascus, a crowd of children burst out laughing as two clowns squirted each other with water and made flowers out of balloons.

"It was beautiful," said Rodeen, a beaming smile covering her face during the show. After the show the young Iraqi girl returned to her place hiding behind her aunt's legs.

"We're doing this to make the children happy in order to remove the fears and memories of bombs and bad days," said Rahman Eidi, one of the clowns. "We also want to teach children about the importance of school." To learn more about Iraqi refugee children in Syria, read the full story and more news from UNHCR.

2. UNHCR Photo Exhibits
The UN Refugee Agency offers traveling photo exhibits available for display, covering topics such as Darfur and resettled refugees in the United States. If you would like to use one of the photo exhibits in your community to raise awareness about refugee issues, please download the exhibit description.
Please allow time for this file to download.

3. Online survey

We would like to thank all the readers who answered our online survey from last month's E-alert. If you would like to let us know what you think about this E-alert and UNHCR's program for educators, please send back our survey by clicking here. We greatly appreciate the useful feedback.

4. News to use

Kenya: UNHCR launches aid distribution to displaced Kenyans
The UN refugee agency on Wednesday launched the distribution of basic household items to hundreds of displaced Kenyans in the capital, Nairobi.
Learn more about displacement in Kenya.

Sweden: Chilly Iceland gives a warm welcome to South American refugees
For women in the South American country of Colombia, the decades-long struggle between the government and irregular armed groups could not be more personal.
Learn more about the Colombia refugee situation.

Switzerland: UNHCR seeks US$261 million for Iraqi refugee programs in 2008
The UN refugee agency on Tuesday launched an appeal for US$261 million to fund its operations this year on behalf of hundreds of thousands of those uprooted by the conflict in Iraq.
Learn more about the Iraq refugee situation.

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