| Hello jay, Today is World Refugee Day. Established in 2000 by the UN General Assembly and celebrated since 2001, this day for many years has gone relatively unnoticed by the general public. For refugees themselves though, World Refugee Day has meant a time to celebrate their heritage. A time to keep traditions alive, and to relive - even for a short time – how things used to be. A celebration not on the world stage, but largely in the refugee camps themselves. But this year, unlike in many years past, refugee issues are making headlines. People have been talking about the refugee crisis like never before. And with 60 million displaced people around the world, many of them trying desperately to find a home on foreign shores, it is a crisis that can no longer be ignored. This World Refugee Day, we’re taking some time to bring you stories from around the world. From people who have recently dug deeper into the crisis and talked with Syrian refugees who are searching – too often in vain – for a place to call home. Over the past few months, we’ve sent teams out to Uganda, Kenya, Germany, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece to talk with refugees from Syria but also refugees from around the world. I joined the Germany and Greece teams. We wanted to see firsthand the complexity of this crisis and listen to the stories of those who are experiencing it every day of their lives. I was personally struck by the Syrian refugees I met in both Germany and Greece who, upon reaching those countries and experiencing the terribly inadequate living conditions there, told me that if they had known what they were escaping to they would never have left war-torn Syria. To me, that is tragic. In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’ll be sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to people who are living in the reality of the crisis. Their experiences were at once deeply moving, surprising, and inspiring. I’m looking forward to sharing their insights so that you too will get a glimpse into the lives of these refugees - their hopes, and their dreams. As we commemorate World Refugee Day, let us all take a moment to reflect on all the good that’s already been done, the long road ahead, and the amazing potential we have to be more fully human to one another. -Daniel
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