What's On- Events for World Refugee Week in Laois

World Refugee Week will take place internationally from the 17th to the 23rd of June, with the International Day for Refugees falling on June 20th.

Laois County Council Integration Team, in partnership with  Laois Libraries, LOETB and various Tidy Towns groups, will be holding an array of events to celebrate throughout the week.

Here is a list of local events that have been announced;

Care for Our Home

Tidy Towns clean-ups

Take small actions to care for our shared home. Join your local Tidy Town for a clean up session.

19 June, 10am - Portarlington, Meeting point: Library

19 June, 7pm - Abbeyleix, Meeting point: Library

22 June, 10am - Portlaoise, Meeting point: Lyster Square

Make a New Connection

Open Library Days

Have a chat! Say hello to someone new in your neighbourhood.

20 June, 10am - Mountmellick Library Coffee Morning

20 June, 6pm - Abbeyleix Library Open Evening

Discover a Story

Art Exhibition

17 - 23 June Rathdowney Library, during opening hours.

Learn about refugees experiences through their artwork. Closing event for LOETB art programme.

VISIT A HUMAN LIBRARY

Borrow A Person Instead Of A Book -where real people become books, ready to share

their unique stories and experiences with you. The Human Library provides a safe space for people to break down social barriers through open and respectful conversation.

PORTLAOISE LIBRARY- 20th June 5pm-7pm.

PORTARLINGTON LIBRARY- 11am-12pm.

This week, the council announced in a press release;

"Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Established in 1998 in the UK, this annual festival aligns with World Refugee Day, celebrated globally on June 20th. The theme for Refugee Week 2024 is “Our Home”.

From the places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet earth: everyone is invited to celebrate what our 'Our Home' means to them. This year the Integration team partnered with Laois Libraries, LOETB and various Tidy Towns groups to deliver a number of events across county Laois. All of them have one aim: to send a message of welcome that can help everyone feel like they belong."

If you would like to establish your own event in celebration of World Refugee Week, visit this link.