Concord Celebrates Compassion and Hope at 2024 World Refugee Day

June 20 – On one of the hottest and sunniest days of the year, hundreds of Concord residents, government officials, volunteers, and refugee families gathered to honor the resiliency and cultures of New Hampshire’s refugee communities in observance of World Refugee Day.

The day started with musical and dance performances from the several different cultures represented at the event. Children from Nepal, Afghanistan, and other countries went on stage and joined in song to welcome the event’s volunteers and participants. Refugees then spoke of their experiences firsthand, offering moving insight into their journeys, and what it means to have a holiday like World Refugee Day.

Jean Hakuzimana, state director for Ascentria’s Services for New Americans program, oversaw the event from start to finish. Hakuzimana came to U.S. from Rwanda in 2018 seeking asylum, and although he is not a refugee, he did arrive alone in this country to build a new life. A former journalist, he was helped by generous people who provided him a place to live in his early days in the states.

“In my work, there is no greater motivation than to think of someone else as a human being. I don’t want to leave here without helping someone, and every day I am encouraged by good-minded people you see here today,” said Hakuzimana.

As the day went on, more fun was had as children played games at their tables and shared jokes over a delectable array of dishes that represented the various refugee communities present at the event. Lunch was prepared in the multicultural kitchen, where refugees and immigrants of different backgrounds came together to cook as a way to learn about other cultures and connect with people of a shared experience.

“The holiday means that we have a task to keep building the community. It’s not about money, it’s about weaving people together. I measure the success of Ascentria through how we are all integrated and how we teach states to understand refugees,” said Hakuzimana.

World Refugee Day is celebrated every year on June 20. Each year, it is a reminder of how courageous and resilient refugees are, honors their contributions to society, and allows their stories to be heard on a grander stage.

As the event wound down, children and families filed outside for some fun in the sun as the day cooled. World Refugee Day 2024 saw children and families leave the event with full bellies and new friends, capping off another successful celebration.