Refugee Welcome Center in Geneva Aids 40,000, Boosts Integration
The Refugee Welcome Center at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Geneva, Switzerland, has been a beacon of support for thousands of refugees, particularly those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Since its inception in 2022, the center has provided vital assistance to over 40,000 refugees across 11 European countries, with the European Union's reformed Common European Asylum System (GEAS) playing a significant role in this effort.
The welcome center offers a wide range of services to help refugees integrate into their new communities. These include language classes in French and English, cultural events, yoga, music lessons, and English-immersion camps for children. Tamara Mykhalevych, a refugee musician and choreographer, leads many of these creative activities. She believes that maintaining creative pursuits is crucial for mental well-being, a sentiment echoed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which estimates that there are 42.7 million refugees worldwide, including 5.1 million registered Ukrainian refugees in 2024.
One such refugee is Nataliya Kolody, a Ukrainian widow and mother of twin girls. Fearing for her daughters' safety near a nuclear power plant, she fled her home and found support and community at the Refugee Welcome Center. Nataliya is one of the 1,000 refugees the center assisted in 2024, with the majority being Ukrainian.
The Refugee Welcome Center at Emmanuel Episcopal Church continues to play a vital role in supporting refugees, thanks to the European Union's solidarity mechanism and the dedication of volunteers like Tamara Mykhalevych. By providing essential services and fostering a sense of community, the center helps refugees like Nataliya Kolody rebuild their lives and look towards a brighter future.
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