UNHCR: The Nation Building Narrative

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 75 Years of the United Nations Special Issue, 2020

By Meagan Gillmore

Few institutions have been as instrumental in shaping Canada today as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Yet when the organization began in 1950, its mandate was for only a few years.

“There was this idea at the very beginning that, somehow, this refugee crisis was going to sort itself out,” explains Michael Casasola, the UNHCR’s senior resettlement officer in Canada. Its early focus was helping people who became refugees after the Second World War. Now, the inter-governmental organization assists people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes: including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, stateless people, and returnees.

“We’ve not been able to sort out the refugee problem,” says Casasola. “The trend has been the other way.… It just gets increasingly complex year by year.”

By the end of 2019, there were 79.5 million displaced people worldwide, according to the UNHCR. This accounts for 1 percent of the global population. Of that, 26 million were refugees: 20.4 million of those were people who fit the definition of “refugee” to fall within the UNHCR’s mandate.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Meagan Gillmore is a freelance writer in Toronto, ON.

Education News

Introducing a New STEM Resource for Girls: The WISE Girls Toolkit

The toolkit is a practical, research-informed resource designed to foster STEM confidence in girls by blending identity work, mentorship, and hands-on STEM engagement.

Reading Engagement Insights Added to Beanstack’s AI-Powered Benny

Beanstack expands its responsible use of AI to measure students’ positive experience with reading.

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Meagan Gillmore
Meagan Gillmore
Meagan Gillmore is a freelance writer in Toronto, ON.

Advertisement

Read More

Introducing a New STEM Resource for Girls: The WISE Girls Toolkit

The toolkit is a practical, research-informed resource designed to foster STEM confidence in girls by blending identity work, mentorship, and hands-on STEM engagement.

Ready or (Definitely) Not: Learning to Teach in a Pandemic Classroom

To many in the field, a poor first year of teaching is the first step in an accepted, almost ritualistic career timeline. Perspectives on a teacher’s first year seem to have shifted, though, since my generation entered the workforce.

Reading Engagement Insights Added to Beanstack’s AI-Powered Benny

Beanstack expands its responsible use of AI to measure students’ positive experience with reading.

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Guardians of the Coast: Building Kids’ Confidence Through Art

I was recently involved with an art exhibition in the Thanet District of Kent, England, that helped students see themselves as artists, advocates, and changemakers.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.
soi keo ngay mai | 88 online casino | truc tiep bong da tv | sbobet di dong | mơ thấy chó đánh con gì | làm casino ở philippin | xem truc tiep thvl2 | vao ibet weebly | kết quả xổ số miền bắc năm 2018 | tai88vin link | gran casino costa brava | casino online w88 | thứ hạng của udinese | game slot đổi thưởng | beste casino app | slot machine occasion | nhận quà free fire miễn phí 2021 | launceston casino | hanoi casino list | vue component slot | lịch thi đấu v lich 2024 | đầu số 0127 đổi thành gì | dientutuyetnga | sòng bạc casino | super 7 casino | hoá ra em rất yêu anh tập 20 | casino galaxy | asian casino game | ty le ca cuoc bong da cambongda | starspins casino | casino hotel | kerching casino | siêu sao siêu xịt tập 18 | kinh doanh casino tại việt nam | funky monkey slot | sdg777 | winner casino erfahrungen | slot attendant | kết qua net 60 ngày | liên quân modpure co | casino parents guide | golden crown casino poipet | tải teaching feeling | game slot đổi thưởng | huge casino | cakhia z1 link | casino theme party supplies | fifa nhật bản apk | thong ke 2 so cuoi giai db | casino trilenium | borgata hotel and casino | dàn đề 10 số | chumba casino app | lich thi dau1 |