Guest post by Faye Grima, SOS Children’s Villages UK 

SOS Children’s Villages UK is the UK arm of the world’s largest charity supporting children without parental care. As part of Refugee Week, we’re asking people to ‘Walk a Mile’ in the shoes of a child refugee. View more at: https://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/

This Refugee Week, SOS Children’s Villages UK is asking everyone to show their support for child refugees around the world by joining our ‘Walk a Mile’ campaign. We want you to walk a mile in the shoes of a child refugee, and as you do, consider what it is like to be a child fleeing for your life.

You can walk a mile anytime and anywhere – while you are heading to work, school or the shops, out with the dog or specifically for our campaign – then share your support on social media by posting an image of your walking feet with the hashtag #walkamile and tag us @SOSChildrenuk.

This year Refugee Week marks its 20th year – as the world is in the grip of a global child refugee crisis. 50 million children have been forced from their homes by violence, persecution, warfare and disaster.  They are travelling hundreds of miles across the world’s dangerous migrant routes in search of safety and their journey will expose them to extreme risks of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.  Worse still, 300,000 of them are facing these dangers alone having lost, or been separated from, their families.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand united to support and protect child refugees and SOS Children’s Villages UK is proud to add our voice to an ever-growing movement which recognises their courage and fights for their rights to safety, dignity and a family-life.

Getting involved with SOS Children’s Villages UK this refugee week:

Walk for Refugees followed by a Great Get Together– Saturday 23rd June, Cambridge

This Refugee Week, SOS Children’s Villages UK will lead a one mile walk through Cambridge to show child refugees that they are welcome in the UK, acknowledge their courage and to fight for their right to family reunion. Join us and show your support for refugee children around the world.

Walkers will meet at 11:00 am, Saturday 23rd June outside the Guildhall (by the Cambridge Visitor Information Centre).

The walk will be followed by a Great Get Together event at the Emmanuel United Reform Church (on Trumpington Street, Cambridge) for the community to come together in memory of Jo Cox MP – who was a real champion for refugee rights and believed that we all have more in common than divides us.

SOS Walk to School Day – Tuesday 19th June

Students and teachers from schools around the country will walk to school on Tuesday 19th June to show their support for refugee children worldwide. If your school would like to take part, you can find a range of educational resources on our website.

 A night of films and conversation: Tuesday 19th June, Arts Picturehouse Cambridge

One of Refugee Week’s ’20 Simple Acts’ this year is to watch a film – and we’re proud to be partnering with the Picturehouse Cinema Team to bring you an evening of short-films and conversation about the refugee crisis. The films will highlight the courage of refugees around the world and will be an opportunity for people to come and ask questions and engage in debate.

Event starts: 9pm

Entry is free

For more information about SOS Children’s Villages Walk a Mile campaign visit our website at https://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/walkamile

To get involved or RSVP to any of our events please get in touch with us at faye.grima@sosuk.org