Notes for Who are refugees:

Slide 2

Normal people and all ages

© Reza | a mosaic of portraits of refugees from around the world, part of the “A Dream of Humanity” exhibition in Paris October 2015.

As part of a Lent display you could create a jigsaw interspersing photographs of refugees with photographs of yourselves, using the teaching that we all belong to one body and when one suffers, all suffer (I Corinthians chp 12 vss 12-26).

Slide 3

Note the Olympic team made up of refugees

The images of refugees are challenging, and there are many more hundreds online which are even more heartbreaking. If you are working on refugees in your classroom you could distribute images stuck on large pieces of paper and children can circulate them adding comments and questions. This can then become the vehicle for a class debate on what needs to be done……. and what you can do..

Slide 4

Paddington Bear – a refugee children will recognise!

This links directly to the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chp 10 vss 25-37. You can use this here and ask the important question “Who is my neighbour?” The story highlights the need to reach out to others – including those who are viewed as outsiders and strangers.

Slide 5

These slides of the different needs faced by refugees can be linked directly to the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew chp 25 vss 31-46 where Jesus tells his followers that when you assist someone in need it is as if you were helping Jesus himself. The idea of seeing Jesus in other people and acting accordingly is an important one in the Christian faith. (In case, when reading the parable, you think sorting sheep from goats is an easy task, you need to remember that the breeds of sheep used in hot countries appear to be identical to goats – the only spottable difference is whether the tail sticks up (goat) or hangs down (sheep)!)

Slide 8

Every story different and personal and , yes, they are all refugees.

Slide 10

Make a difference day is actually an American idea and falls in October – but we have “borrowed” the concept and the logo here

The children are sure to have a host of ideas about what can be done to make a difference. You may like to create the equivalent of a prayer tree or a suggestions box (with helping hand shapes?) and ask children over the next day or two to put their ideas here. Their suggestions could direct your Lent challenge activities.