In 2019, there were more than 79.5 million displaced people. They face a wide range of different challenges. These can include lack of food and shelter, difficulty finding employment, financial challenges, racism, and other forms of discrimination and mental health issues. Many of these problems have been exacerbated by the corona crisis.
The theme of the 2020 World Refugee Day is “every action counts”. Both the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests have highlighted the need for us to come together and create a more inclusive society. Everyone can make a difference, including each refugee. Refugees working at Discover Deep Japan help rural Japan tackle its demographic and economic challenges by using their language and marketing skills to promote local tourism and products.
If you want to get involved, you could start by getting informed about the issues faced by refugees in Japan, volunteering, or making a small donation. We recommend the Japan Association For Refugees as a starting point: www.refugee.or.jp/en/.