UMD is hosting an exhibit on the refugee experience on Wednesday, February 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom, 1120 Kirby Drive. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
In 30 minutes, participants rotate through stations that represent situations experienced by refugees. The exhibit begins in Syria and ends in Sweden.
Cindy Christian, director of the Alworth Institute, says, “Our goal is not just to provide information– it’s to help participants empathize with refugees.” Christian believes the timing is crucial because of the current refugee situation, which is the largest refugee and humanitarian crisis since World War II.
The Alworth Institute, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, is sponsoring “Refugee for 30 Minutes,” but the idea is rooted in collaboration between the Northland Chapter of the Red Cross, University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS), and UMD. Political Science students from UWS worked with the Northland Red Cross in creating the exhibit and will guide participants through the stations.
The three organizations have been working together for two years in effort to educate people about international humanitarian law. “We hope this is the catalyst for more projects that empower students as humanitarian law ambassadors,” says Christian.