The star-crossed lovers whose story is told in “Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo.” Since the beginning of cinematic history, independent filmmakers, documentarians, and occasionally, Hollywood directors have found inspiration in the communities and individuals affected by armed conflict. In recognition and celebration of film’s ability to tell the stories of those silenced by violence and oppression, […]
by Julie Leebove When most people think of American Red Cross, they think of disaster relief, but the Red Cross does so much more than that. These other services range from supporting military families to providing education on International Humanitarian Law. One of the lesser-known but still very important Red Cross service is Restoring Family […]
By Connor Donaldson Saturday, June 20, was World Refugee Day. Local Red Cross staff participated in activities and simulations in both Greeley and Colorado Springs. Each day, millions of people around the globe scrape out an existence as refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. To help raise awareness for World Refugee Day, the Global […]
by Patricia Billinger One morning during the height of international sanctions against Iraq in the ‘90s, Enas Alsharea overheard her father lamenting to her mother: “I am suffering that I can’t get oranges for my children. I am suffering because I want to be able to give my children everything.” Alsharea, who was a young […]
Story & Video by Patricia BillingerWhen armed men stormed one 9-year-old’s home town in Sudan, she fled for her life — losing contact with her family. Years later, after living in refugee camps and eventually making it safely to resettle in the United States, this girl — now a young woman — turned to the […]
By Patricia Billinger What is the Red Cross up to when we’re not responding to massive disasters? Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at what the Red Cross does #Allin1Day. Here’s a snapshot of what really happened on a single day last week in the Colorado & Wyoming Region: Wednesday, May 20 6:50 a.m. […]
The concept of a “peace process” can bring to mind images of drawn-out negotiations, tense moments of compromise, and diplomats locked in urgent debate. But as Suzanne Ghais, the speaker for next Wednesday’s International Services Lunch and Learn, has learned, sometimes the key to peace must involve innovative measures, like threats of nudity. Ghais, who […]
On April 30, 1975 — 40 years ago today — Saigon fell to The People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. Many people remember the striking images of people evacuating from Saigon and South Vietnam on April 29 and 30. Thu-Thuy Truong was 13 at the time and one of […]
On Wednesday, April 29, at least 50 Colorado residents who have ties to Nepal and surrounding countries gathered at the Asian Pacific Development Center in Aurora to seek information about international relief efforts in response to the devastating 7.8 Magnitude earthquake that shook Nepal on the morning of April 25, 2015. About 50 people gather […]
By Patricia Billinger Refugees face repeated traumas, challenges and upheavals. First, they witness – or are targets of – violence in their home country that is so threatening that they must abandon everything they have and flee. Many of us who have never known violent political and social upheaval erroneously assume that refugees leave the […]