Narrative Change
You can help lift up real stories and experiences of Palestine refugees to expand narratives that foster both empathy and care.
Here are some of the community engagement initiatives we’ve launched toward that aim:
Let's Talk UNRWA, a monthly speaker series
UNRWA USA presents a series of live-streamed events where we interview UNRWA leaders and experts about various aspects of UNRWA's work and give our supporters an insider look as well as an opportunity to learn and ask questions.
These episodes are streamed on UNRWA USA’s Facebook and Youtube and are available for viewing anytime after that.
Voices of UNRWA blog, a collection of palestine refugee Stories
The Voices of UNRWA blog is dedicated to providing American readers with real stories of Palestine refugees and their lives.
This blog features many stories of UNRWA alumni many of whom now call the United States home.
We welcome guest writers, especially UNRWA alumni, to contribute stories and articles for consideration to our collection.
UNRWA Alumni of North America
UNRWA Alumni of North America is an organized group of people who share the common experience of having attended UNRWA schools, benefited from UNRWA services, and/or served as UNRWA staff and are living in or citizens of the United States or Canada.
Through their personal stories and advocacy efforts, members aim to help change the US narrative around Palestine refugees and subsequently generate widespread American support for UNRWA.
On World Refugee Day 2022, UNRWA USA launched its first-ever Refugee Advisory Council, alumni are encouraged to nominate themselves for the 2022-2024 council!
advocate for UNRWA funding + the rights of Palestine refugees
We send regular action alerts and emails to help keep people informed about legislation and issues affecting UNRWA and the Palestine refugees served by the Agency.
Your voice is important! Now is the time for you to get involved with our advocacy efforts by sharing your story or solidarity and help United States lawmakers and community members understand the plight of Palestine refugees:
Here are a few easy ways to begin your advocacy:
Apply to join our advocate training program (coming soon!)
If you are interested in meeting with your legislators about issues related to UNRWA and Palestine refugees, please contact us here.
Humanitarian assistance should never be politicized, but that's what happened when the United States, UNRWA's largest donor for decades, suddenly defunded the Agency in 2018. In response, runners and refugees from Palestine participated in a Relay Run for Refugees, a 250-mile run from NYC to DC, hosted by UNRWA USA in partnership with Right to Movement Palestine. The intention behind what will go down in history as “the run of the century” was to urge the US government to put humanitarian assistance ahead of politics and back in line with American values; doing so would ensure Palestine refugees, who have nowhere else to turn, have uninterrupted access to education, food assistance, healthcare, and other programs.
The relay began on Friday, September 20, in NYC at the start of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and ended on Wednesday, September 25, in Washington, DC. Each day of running concluded with a ‘Refugees Reimagined’ storytelling event hosted by community partners in Clifton, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware, and Baltimore, Maryland. Watch this 10-minute short film we made about the epic journey!