June 20 is World Refugee Day, and at the UBC Faculty of Education, we’re committed to learning, reflecting and acting.
This year, in partnership with the CMS Borders research group, we are hosting an inaugural symposium, “Afghan Women—Resisting, Redefining, and Reclaiming.” This full-day event explores how Afghan women are reshaping their identities through education, resisting exclusion and reclaiming space amid forced relocation, political upheaval and gendered oppression. Their stories challenge prescriptive narratives and affirm the power of education to foster identity, connection, agency and hope. Their experiences resonate with broader global struggles for self-determination —from racialized surveillance to cultural erasure—and show us what’s possible when communities lead the way.
“All struggles for refuge, recognition and justice are profoundly interconnected.” – Dean Jan Hare
How the Faculty is taking action
At the UBC Faculty of Education, we’re working to make education more inclusive and responsive—locally and globally:
- NITEP, our Indigenous Teacher Education Program, has trained Indigenous educators for over 50 years.
- A new EdD subspecialization fosters Indigenous leadership in education.
- Our MOOC, “Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing,” helps integrate Indigenous knowledges into early learning practices.
- In Dadaab, Kenya, we’ve helped train over 300 refugee teachers.
- Our Refugee Education program equips educators with the tools to support displaced learners.
- The Edith Lando Professorship in Counselling for Refugee and Immigrant Youth and Families advances culturally grounded mental health support for newcomer youth.
Together, these efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to equity, access, and educational justice.
Join Us
This World Refugee Day, we invite you to join the conversation. Let’s reflect, connect and build a more inclusive future—together.
Learn more about the World Refugee Day Symposium here.
