Catholic Charities of Maine hosts virtual World Refugee Day celebration
Catholic Charities of Maine hosted a virtual celebration of World Refugee Day Saturday.
Refugees from all over Maine shared their experiences.
They’re often displaced by human rights violations or persecution, in circumstances officially recognized by their host countries.
Various speakers addressed viewers and those watching saw a greeting from Governor Janet Mills.
“They are coming together and celebrating, but unfortunately, as you know, this year has become very different,” said Tarlan Ahmadov, the state’s refugee coordinator.
Ahmadov says the pandemic is a time when Maine's refugees can become a key part of the solution.
“I look at the refugees and the immigrants as one of the sources for building our workforce. Many refugees came with very good backgrounds in education and skills. Because we still see when a person who comes here with a PhD and works at the parking lot. That's a shame to us,” Ahmadov said.
Having come to Maine 17 years ago himself, Ahmadov can attest to the generosity and understanding of Maine residents and believes ensuring work and healthcare access to new Mainer communities can be a key step forward.
There are nearly 26 million refugees worldwide and more than half of them are children.