UK & Ireland: Irish Bookshops Support Refugee Awareness

In June, libraries across Ireland as well as Hughes and Hughes Booksellers participated in UNHCR Ireland’s “do 1 thing” campaign to mark World Refugee Day on 20th June. Stands displaying refugee titles, written by or about refugees, were displayed in libraries across the country for up to two weeks around World Refugee Day.

All the Hughes and Hughes’ stores and over 130 libraries across the country took part in the campaign and highlighted some of the many brilliant refugee titles on our reading lists. These included titles for children and adults, fiction and non-fiction, popular novels like the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, as well as less well-known but equally moving ones like Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. Anyone who took out a refugee title received a free bookmark with a list of other recommended reads on it.

Sophie Magennis, Head of Office at UNHCR Ireland says, “Refugees across the world have shown great courage and resilience in escaping from terrible situations and the “do 1 thing” campaign is about showing understanding and support. Some of the books highlighted by the “do 1 thing” campaign are difficult reads, but many of these titles are also testaments to human ingenuity, resilience and strength”.

Additional Information:

• UNHCR Information on the campaign
• Original article