This Saturday, Church World Service Virginia is celebrating World Refugee Day in downtown Harrisonburg. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
[choir singing, fades under]
This is a Congolese choir – and it's a taste of the cultural experiences that will be on display at the Turner Pavilion this weekend. Church World Service, or CWS, is hosting –
RODRIGUE MAKELELE: Music performances, cultural activities, food, storytelling, henna, face painting, kids' activities, and also discussions about the issues that impact our communities.
Rodrigue Makelele is the Virginia refugee community organizer for CWS. He works across the state to educate the public and increase policymakers' support for refugees.
MAKELELE: The World Refugee Day really is an international day designated by the United Nations to shine a light on the rights and the dreams of refugees, helping them engage in their communities. … So we take this opportunity to honor their courage, their resilience, but also their contributions, as well as highlighting the challenges that refugees face in rebuilding their lives.
The celebration is part of the Best.Weekend.Ever. event, which will bring other musical performances, food, arts and crafts, and a sip-and-stroll to downtown Harrisonburg.
MAKELELE: Please join us! Let's come together and celebrate. This is an important and meaningful day for immigrants and refugees in our community, and … we want you to be there so that we can share our gifts and our contributions in our community.
[choir sings]
The Best.Weekend.Ever. begins at noon on Saturday, and the World Refugee Day celebration runs from 3 to 6 p.m.
