Refugees to face off against UNHCR staff in a football match

An unconventional football match will take place in the capital city, Juba, on Wednesday, June 15.

Staff at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will come face to face with a team of refugees in what is expected to be a gruelling battle of supremacy, between the ‘king’ and the ‘subjects’.

The much expected clash will take place at the Buluk playground.

The ‘unorthodox’ clash is part of the many activities lined this year, by the agency, ahead of the forthcoming World Refugee’s Days.

World Refugee Day, celebrated every June 20, is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe.

On that day, the world recognizes the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.

This year’s World Refugee Day will be celebrated under the theme – “The Right to Seek Safety”,

The football match is bring together refugees, UNHCR staff as well as partners and two mixed teams, all chasing the “Dream Ball”.

The organisers have picked sports as a catalyst for positive change for social change, empowering refugee communities and strengthening social ties.

The game will be in partnership with Alive and Kicking, with the support of JICA, and will be designed by refugee artists from around the world and will be sold online to raise funds for UNHCR programmes that provide refugees access to sports facilities and equipment.

World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.