The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is proud to announce the launch of the ‘Pledge to be a Family that Welcomes Refugees’ campaign, a powerful initiative to encourage empathy, inclusion, and understanding in future generations. This campaign, kicking off on 4 November, inspires families across Australia to take a stand for a more compassionate future by pledging to raise children who welcome and support refugees and people seeking asylum.
Through this campaign, the ASRC seeks to raise awareness of the issues refugees and people seeking asylum face when trying to rebuild their lives in the community. Families of any composition are encouraged to sign the pledge to make a statement of the values they’d like to champion for their families. By signing, pledgers will receive a poster, designed by refugee artist Elrica Jasmine, that they can use to decorate their home with a values statement or to take to the next rally for human rights. Those with little ones will also get a colouring sheet for their children, hoping to prompt a meaningful conversation about compassion regardless of our country of origin.
With refugee issues continuing to be at the forefront of global matters, the ASRC is dedicated to creating a safe, respected, and valued community for everyone. This is in response to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data that over 17 million refugees are children — accounting for 40 per cent of the global refugee population — and this campaign aims to humanise the stories of those seeking asylum.
The public is also encouraged to share their pledges on social media, using the hashtags #MyFamilyWelcomesRefugees and #WelcomeRefugees, creating a ripple effect of awareness and positivity across the community. Influential Melbourne-based family bloggers, educators, and community leaders have already expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the growing momentum behind the campaign.
“We are committed to creating a future where all refugees and people seeking asylum are welcomed. By urging families to take this pledge, we are actively taking a step to make sure future generations are inclusive and all in our community are treated equally.,” stated ASRC Deputy CEO Jana Favero.
Globally, more than 100 million people are currently displaced due to conflict, persecution, and human rights violations. For the ASRC, there has never been a more crucial time to teach the next generation about the importance of compassion and understanding, and Australia as a home to a diverse range of cultures and communities, has an opportunity to lead by example.
For more information on how to participate in the ‘Pledge to Be a Family that Welcomes Refugees’ campaign, visit https://donate.asrc.org.au/statement-to-welcome-refugees
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
The ASRC is Australia’s largest human rights organisation dedicated to supporting people seeking asylum. Founded in 2001, the ASRC delivers critical services to more than 7,000 refugees and people seeking asylum each year, including legal aid, food, housing, and education. Through its advocacy work, the ASRC continues to challenge Australia’s treatment of people seeking asylum and strives for a more compassionate approach to refugee protection. The ASRC movement is proudly supported by a community of committed volunteers and supporters.
For more information about the ASRC, please visit https://asrc.org.au/
Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn
