World Refugee Day 2003: Georgia
World Refugee Day 2003: Georgia
On June 20, young Chechens in the Pankisi valley were treated to a day of fun activities. They took part in sports competitions and were entertained by singing, dancing, piano playing and an interactive show by the Tbilisi Fairy Tale Theatre.
At the end of the day, nearly 3,000 balloons were released into the sky, each with a card attached with a young refugee's name and address on it. UNHCR offices in the region were alerted to these balloons so that if these cards are returned to the field offices, the child whose balloon has travelled the furthest will get a special prize.
The UNHCR office in Georgia produced a video which shows the activities that took place in the Pankisi valley. To obtain a copy of the video, please contact the UNHCR office in Tbilisi.
World Refugee Day celebrations were also organised among internally displaced people (IDPs) in West Georgia to showcase the varied skills of young IDPs.