WORLD REFUGEE DAY
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, which is commemorated every 20 June, at Netwomening we have once again called for the importance of building a more welcoming, inclusive society committed to people who have been forced to leave their homes to start again.
Because behind every figure there is a story. There are names, interrupted plans, separated families and an enormous capacity for resilience that deserves to be recognised and supported.
Once again this year, we have held a very special meeting at the offices of our main sponsor and strategic ally, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, in Madrid. With their collaboration, we have been able to expand our impact and reach more and more Afghan women under international protection in Spain.
This alliance demonstrates that when companies actively get involved in social transformation, real opportunities are created to build new lives and promote more humane and sustainable inclusion processes.
A space to listen, support and build a future
During the event, we presented a new podcast miniseries consisting of three episodes that give a voice to the different elements that make inclusion possible: support, business involvement and the testimony of those who have had to start again from scratch.
Under the title “Stories that Build Refuge”, this series brings together experiences, lessons learnt and conversations that reflect the power of support networks.
The episodes are:
Episode 1 | “Supporting to Move Forward”
Featuring our sponsor, Consuelo Alonso-Carriazo, and Kath Benites, coordinator of Netwomening, who talk about the value of support, the role of networks of trust and the importance of leaving no one behind.
Episode 2 | “The Role of the Company”
Featuring Sergio Bullón, responsible for Alnylam, and Clara Cogorno, communications manager at Nwm, who share how the private sector can become an agent of change and actively contribute to social inclusion through committed and sustainable partnerships.
Episode 3 | “Starting Over”
Featuring the testimonies of Tara and Sara, Afghan refugee women, together with Clara Cogorno, in a deeply inspiring conversation about the challenge and courage involved in rebuilding a life in a new country.
During the meeting, we presented the final episode, bringing to a close an initiative that was created with the aim of continuing to raise awareness, generate conversation and bring real stories of overcoming difficulties and hope closer to society.
The power of alliances
At Netwomening, we firmly believe that inclusion does not happen only when a person crosses a border. True welcome begins when they find a community, an opportunity and a network that supports them.
Refugee women, and especially the Afghan women we work with every day, face multiple challenges: learning a new language, adapting to an unfamiliar environment, accessing employment and regaining the confidence to plan a future.
However, if there is one thing they constantly teach us, it is their extraordinary ability to rebuild themselves, move forward and transform adversity into strength.
For this reason, we especially want to thank Alnylam for its continued commitment and its firm support for a model of collaboration that generates a tangible impact on the lives of many women. Because major changes are only possible when we join forces. And because, today more than ever, we need more alliances that turn solidarity into action.
This commitment was also materialised in a very significant donation for our community: Alnylam handed over seven laptop computers, which we will allocate to Afghan women who have requested this resource to continue or begin their studies, as well as to facilitate their access to online Spanish classes. Mastering the language is a fundamental tool for autonomy, social integration and access to new opportunities, and having the appropriate technological resources can make a great difference in this process.
With this donation, we continue to remove barriers and bring real opportunities closer to women who are building a new life project in Spain. Because inclusion also involves guaranteeing access to tools that allow people to learn, grow and move towards greater independence.
On World Refugee Day, we want to extend a collective invitation: to continue building bridges, opening up spaces of opportunity and remembering that no one chooses to be a refugee, but we can all choose to be part of the refuge someone needs.
Thank you to all the people, institutions and companies that are part of this network that leaves no one behind. We continue moving forward. Together.
Writer: Kath Benites Melgarejo
