- 70 Million: The total number of forcibly displaced persons in the world today.
- 25.9 Million: Number of refugees around the world. (An all-time high).
- 37,000 people on average are forced from their homes each day. ~ June 2019 UN Annual Report on Refugees
“Migration is not a passing emergency.” ~ Pope Francis
This week, we continue our coverage on the “Run for Your Life” simulation that took place at the Cabrini Retreat Center in Des Plaines, IL from September 13 – 16th. A variety of adult and youth groups from across the Archdiocese of Chicago participated in the simulation.
After an introduction to the crises that may be happening in a refugee’s life, causing them to leave their home and their country, participants begin their simulated journey. They are divided into family groups and given a biography of their family, their situation and the particular members of their family.
Participants are asked to take on the identity of that family as parent, grandparent, adult child, toddler, etc., as well as their reason for leaving.
The urgency begins as they are told they have to leave IMMEDIATELY, no time for planning. They are given a “wallet” of money and a series of pictures of items to take along….but they can only choose 10 of those items…and that’s all they will have besides the clothes on their backs.
They begin their journey toward what they hope will be a country that will welcome them and protect them from the harm they are now facing. They do not know what obstacles or dangers they may face, nor how long that journey may take.
