Join in the World Refugee Day Celebration on June 17 in Fargo

6/15/2010

Speakers, Music, Food to be Featured -- The current world refugee crisis and its solutions will be addressed by new Americans speaking at the World Refugee Day Celebration, 1-5 pm Thursday, June 17, 2010, in Fargo. The annual event is open to the public and is sponsored by the New American Services program of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. The celebration will be held outdoors on the Lutheran Social Services grounds at 1325 11th St. S., Fargo.

Speakers will begin at 1 pm, followed by live entertainment including Bhutanese dancers, an African drum group and music from Haiti and Liberia throughout the afternoon. Ethnic food and games will be available along with an opportunity to become acquainted with these new members of the local community.

New American speakers include Luma Aziz Al Obeidy, Fargo, from Iraq; Abednego Thomas, Fargo, from Liberia; Hari Timsina, West Fargo, from Bhutan; Mohyeldin Mohamed, Fargo, from Darfur, Sudan.

Musicians include Ricot Aladin from Haiti and Abednego Thomas from Liberia.

The United Nations General Assembly first designated World Refugee Day in June 2000 to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world, according to Darci Asche, Community Support Supervisor, New American Services. Since then, World Refugee Day has become an annual commemoration marked by a variety of events in more than 100 countries.

New American Services works with the US government to help refugees approved for admittance into the United States to establish a home in North Dakota and become economically self-sufficient.

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota is a nonprofit social services agency serving one in nine North Dakotans annually from offices in five cities with 19 programs that strengthen communities, children, individuals and families without regard to clients’ race, religion, gender or economic status. ##