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Discussion Guide for

“Refugee Children
of a Shattered East.”
After viewing “Refugee Children of a Shattered East,” use this guide to research the issues
surrounding refugees and displaced persons, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what
you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow
God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.

Research
» T h e 1 9 5 1 Refugee Conven tion, which established the United Nations
Refugee Agency, defines a refugee as someone who, “owing to a well-founded fear of
being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular
social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is
unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that
country.” Source: UNHCR, “Refugees: Flowing Across Borders”

» “ Un l i k e r efugees, IDPs [internally displaced people] have not crossed an


international border to find sanctuary but have remained inside their home countries.
Even if they have fled for similar reasons as refugees (armed conflict, generalized
violence, human rights violations), IDPs legally remain under the protection of their
own government — even though that government might be the cause of their flight.
As citizens, they retain all of their rights and protection under both human rights and
international humanitarian law.”
Source: UNHCR, “Internally Displaced People: On the Run in Their Own Land”

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» “ T h e n u m ber of r efugees of c on cer n to UNHCR stood at 10.5 million
refugees at the beginning of 2009, down 8 percent from a year earlier.… [Refugees]
live in widely varying conditions, from well-established camps and collective centres to
makeshift shelters or living in the open. Most are in rural settings, but the number of
urban refugees is growing. They all face three possible solutions: repatriation [returning
home]; local integration [into the community that has hosted them as refugees] or
resettlement [to a third country, such as the United States, due to unsafe conditions at
home and in their host country].” Source: UNHCR, Refugee Figures

» Ei g ht y p e rc ent of r efugees are women and children.


Source: UNHCR, Refugee Figures

» Ev id e nc e indic at es t hat r efugee and I DP c amps are often recruiting


grounds for child soldiers because of the convenient concentrations of children who
have limited protection in these zones and often very few chances to go to school.

» Ne a r ly t wo- thi rd s of t he wo rld’s r efugees are in the Middle East


and Africa. Although refugee flows are widespread, a handful of countries are the
primary source. Half of all refugees come from three sources: Palestine, Afghanistan,
and Iraq. Also on the list of the 10 leading sources of refugees are Sierra Leone,
Somalia, Sudan, Yugoslavia, Angola, Croatia, and Eritrea.
Source: UNHCR, Refugee Figures

» C o u ntr i e s who have signe d the 1951 Refugee Convention are obligated to
adhere to the principle of non-refoulment, which means that “no country may deport
or expel a person to a country where that person faces persecution, or risk of serious
human rights violations.” Source: Amnesty International Canada, “Who Is a Refugee?”

» “ O f t h e 1 0.5 million r efugees of concern to UNHCR around the world,


only about 1 percent are referred by the agency for resettlement.”
Source: UNHCR, “Resettlement”

» Ide a l ly, r efugees shoul d be able to ret urn home safely and with
dignity. However, returning home comes with many challenges, such as rebuilding
homes and livelihoods, reconciling with those who stayed behind, overcoming
difficulties such as landmines and land ownership disputes, and living with the trauma
of conflict and loss.

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Reflect
Ho w do y o u r e act, and respond, when you hear about crises that have forced
thousands of people to leave their homes? Consider these statistics:

Iraq: 5 years of war, over 2 million refugees


Afghanistan: 30 years of turmoil, 3.25 million refugees
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 60 years, 4.5 million refugees

Do you think people respond differently to current crises than to ongoing ones? If so,
what effect might our attitude toward conflict have on its resolution and the people it
has displaced?

W h at do c h i ldren need in o rd er to live healthy lives, physically, mentally, and


spiritually? How do violence, war, and fear of persecution affect their opportunity to live
healthy lives?

F o r r e f u g e e s , a n d many int ernally displaced people, fleeing to a place of


refuge can mean living in crowded camps, not knowing the local language, having little to
no resources, and being separated from their families. What would be your first step in this
situation? Who would you turn to?

Recall
W h at a r e t h e l iving con d itions where Fawaz and his family now live
in Jordan?

Ni n e - y e ar - o ld Fawaz was kid napped for a $10,000 ransom, held in a solitary


room for three weeks, and tormented by his captors. What was the interviewer’s impression
of this young boy as he told his personal story? What changes had Fawaz’s family noticed in
his behavior since the incident? How did Fawaz talk about his future and about returning to
Iraq?

Acc o rd i n g t o the vi deo, what do refugee and internally displaced children like
Fawaz need most in order to begin recovering from the tragedy and personal horror they have
experienced?

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W it h re g a rd to t he cr ises in this region, what grabs attention in the global news
headlines? Do we hear about these children and their families? What impact does a media
focus have on children’s futures?

Respond
» D ecr e a s i ng bu dget s fo r ai d combined with negative public opinion about
immigration issues mean the number of refugees resettled in developed countries does
not keep pace with the demand. Why do you think this is? What are some of the pro
and con arguments you have heard? What can and should be done to change this
situation?

» Or g a n i z ations that help r efugees resettle in the United States and
other countries rely on volunteer assistance. Consider contacting organizations such
as the International Rescue Committee (www.theirc.org) to find ways you can offer
invaluable assistance and friendship. Discuss as a group how you can reach out to the
refugee community in your area.

Reach Out
Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» P a rt ic i pate in Wor ld Refugee Day (June 20). Visit


www.worldvisionresources.com and search for “World Refugee Day” for information.

» B e c o m e e duc at ed abou t r efugees and internally displaced people. To get


started, visit www.worldvision.org and www.unhcr.org (the United Nations Refugee
Agency). UNHCR has a wealth of information about refugee and IDP policy, history,
and current crises around the world.

» Adv o c at e on behalf of r efugees and internally displaced people. Visit


www.worldvisionresources.com and click on ‘programs and events”.

» Sp o n s or a c hild t hr ough Wor ld V ision for just about $1 a day.


You’ll provide him or her with access to critical basics, such as clean water, improved
nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts can make a world of difference for one
child and his or her family and community. For sponsorship information, visit
www.worldvisionresources.com.

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Resolve
» Fo r th e L o rd is a Go d of jus tic e. —Isaiah 30:18

» T h e LOR D watc hes ove r t he alien [foreigner] and sustains the fatherless
and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. —Psalm 146:9

» “ B l e s s e d a re t he poo r in s pir it, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for
they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:3-10

» Fi n a l ly, b e s tr ong in the Lo rd and in his mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms. —Ephesians 6:10-12

» He w i l l wip e every t ear from their eyes. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. —
Revelation 21:4

Rely
Pray that:

» T h e p l i g ht of refugee and internally displaced children and their families will


be raised up and that the international community, governments, policymakers, and
individuals like us will respond.

» P e a c e w i l l c ome t o r egions devastated by conflict, war, famine, and


disease. Pray for reconciliation between groups who have been in conflict for
generations.

» R e f u g e e s and int ernally d is plac ed peo ple currently living in


camps, slums, or other areas will receive what they need physically, emotionally, and
spiritually. Pray that those resettling in new countries will encounter people willing and
able to help meet their needs as they adjust to a new place and life.

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The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other
cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to
reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we
are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an
error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within,
please contact World Vision Resources.

Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-
9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

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About World Vision
W o r l d Vi s i o n is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated
to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide
to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and
injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves
alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s
unconditional love for all people.

We envision a world where each child experiences “fullness of life”


as described in John 10:10. We know this can be achieved only by
addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way.
World Vision is unique in bringing 60 years of experience in three key
areas to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term
development, and advocacy. We bring our skills across many areas of
expertise to each community where we work, enabling us to support
children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

About World Vision Resources


E nd i n g g l o b a l p ove rt y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.


World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources
to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our


resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org

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