Advent 2021 Project: Rohingya Refugees
Refugees In A Foreign Land
Much like baby Jesus and parents Joseph and Mary hiding from Herod in Egypt, there are millions of people who have left their homes to escape something. In a season where many of us are not traveling as we would normally, we sit in our preferred residence pondering when we will get to be on the move once again. In the news, each day, we hear about migrations. Groups of people who are fleeing from something. This year FastPrayGive.org and our parent organization are beginning to spotlight ways Methodist and Uniting Church people are helping the most vulnerable people who are migrants, for one reason or another.
Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangadesh that are home to around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees
For Advent, Christmas, and Ephiphany we are beginning a new partnership with All We Can, the official relief and development charity of the British Methodist Church, to raise awareness and assistance for Rohingyan refugees living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
The camp, which is the largest in the world, is mostly inhabited by the Rohingya people who have been fleeing violence and discrimination in Rakhine State, Myanmar for decades. Since 1991, the camp has grown and today, there are 1.2 million people sheltered in this place. The conditions are inhumane, and the scale of the need has put immense pressure on the Bangladeshi host community and existing facilities and services. A refugee’s life in Kutupalong is a life of poverty, isolation, and hopelessness.
We’re supporting these refugees through partnerships on the ground in Bangladesh to meet the most pressing needs.
How Do We Help?
Supporting people who are alienated in a host country is difficult because the needs are varied and great. Fighting malnutrition and hunger, the primary aim of the World Wesleyan Hunger Fund, requires a multi-faceted approach. This new partnership enables us to understand the critical needs of the Rohingya people, especially during a global pandemic that places additional stress upon humanitarian organizations. FastPrayGive.org still has an emphasis on reducing or eliminating preventable disease and death due to malnutrition, but we’re seeking to achieve this by adapting to the most pressing need.
In the coming weeks, you will find linked here more information about education and hygiene initiatives as well as feeding programs that explain more about how our wide stance of approaching hunger and poverty is able to produce positive outcomes.
FastPrayGive.org has matched up to $3,500 in gifts with World Wesleyan Hunger Funds for this Advent and Christmas project.
Rohingya Refugees – Advent 2021
Breaking Cycles
Rev. Ray Buchanan says, “We’ll never end hunger by only feeding people,” and if our efforts are focused only on immediate need, we find the challenges remain chronic. Breaking generational cycles of hunger means equipping people with literacy, sanitation, psychosocial well-being, and personal safety. As individuals, we don’t have the physical or political power to send the refugees home to Myanmar, but we can help our human family during their time of need.
Please consider donating towards our goal of proving as much aid and support to the Rohingya refugees by donating below.
Want to get our Advent guide and donate at the same time? You can donate to this project at checkout if you purchase any product from our store including our Advent guide, or you can donate through the web-form below.
Advent Guide
View our resources to help you prepare for Christmas and lead you into the new year. Make a donation to this project at the time of purchase!
Rohingya Refugees – Advent 2021
You can also donate to this project at checkout if you purchase any product from our store including our Advent guide.
A woman and child practice good handwashing techniques at a hand wash station installed within the camps.
