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Teacher's Corner
Integrating Refugee Issues into the Classroom
This page assists teachers to introduce refugee issues into the classroom and shows how they are linked to human rights. Various teaching tools available help to illustrate the difficulties refugees face from the moment they flee their homes to the time they are settled and have adapted to a new country. They sensitize children to the notions of difference, and the importance of welcoming the new people they meet. They also introduce the concept of fundamental needs and how they can be met.
Refugees and Human Rights Youth Poetry Contest
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April 8 to May 3, 2013 OTTAWA DEADLINE EXTENDED TO May 17
Topic: Refugees and Human Rights
Eligibility: Grades 9 and 10
Fees: Free to enter
Download OTTAWA contest flyer (English - PDF, 124 KB)
Download OTTAWA contest flyer (French - PDF, 131 KB)
Download OTTAWA contest entry form (English - PDF, 241 KB)
Download OTTAWA contest entry form (French - PDF, 250 KB)
Download TORONTO contest flyer (English - PDF, 222 KB)
Download TORONTO contest entry form (English - PDF, 208 KB)
Teacher's Tools
UNHCR offers a wealth of educational resources to help teachers, parents and students learn more about refugees:
Calalogue of Resources
Browse online
Download English Printable Version (PDF format, 2.3 MB)
Download French Printable Version (PDF format, 2.3 MB)
Canadian Resources
This teacher’s guide contains basic facts, stories, and activity ideas to assist you in introducing the topic of refugees into your classroom, whether in social studies, history, geography or other lessons.
English Teacher's Guide
(PDF format, 102 KB)
French Teacher's Guide
(PDF format, 106 KB)
Public Speaking
Our Facilitator's manual has been designed to help students speak about refugees with their peers. If you are interested in public speaking in order to share the stories of refugees with Canadians at your church, school, or social group, please download a free copy ...
English Facilitator's Manual
(PDF format, 525 KB)
French Facilitator's Manual
(PDF format, 525 KB)
Get involved
As you share information about refugees with your students and colleagues you may find that they want to get involved. The best way to help UNHCR help refugees is to consider organizing a fundraising event in your school. Click here for fundraising ideas or contact us for more information.
You can also visit www.ninemillion.org to support a program we have developed with Nike and Microsoft to provide refugee children with access to education. Of course, we encourage you to tell others about the resources and information you have found on this site.
Join in World Refugee Day
Every year, World Refugee Day is held on June 20. Visit our World Refugee Day page to find out what kind of activities will be available, or how to organize your own activities for this special day.
News
Refuge-E Net is distributed regularly to Canadians who are concerned about the plight of refugees around the world. Subscribe to Refuge-E Net.
Actualités à explorer en classe
Past Teachers newsletters:
July 2009: World Refugee Day
April 2009: 2008 Global Trends
February 2009: Campaign: Gimme Shelter
November 2008: UNHCR Game 'Against All Odds'
April 2008: 2007 Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialised Countries
February 2008: UNHCR Newsletter Survey
November 2007: Looking for new ideas?
September 2007: Back to school issue
May 2007: Welcome to our first electronic newsletter
Enter the DonorZone
Donors make all the difference to UNHCR and the refugees we work to protect. Voluntary contributions from governments, individuals, corporations and humanitarian community groups make up 97% of our total budget, and the funds directly assist more than 19 million refugees.
WithYou
WithYou is UNHCR's semi-annual newsletter that highlights the work UNHCR has performed for refugees around the world, as well as in-depth interviews with field workers who make it all happen. WithYou is now available in PDF download or Online format.