Poetry brings human rights, refugee issues to classrooms

The seventh annual Refugees and Human Rights Child and Youth Poetry Contest received 162 poems from Toronto area students  in commemoration of World Refugee Day. All the entries to the poetry contest showcase young Canadians’ empathy and knowledge of the global refugee crisis.

The contest — started in 2007 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee’s Toronto office and COSTI Immigrant Services — aims to bring human rights education and awareness of the refugee situation to Canadian classrooms.

“By asking youth to write poetry about refugees and human rights, we hope to encourage Canada’s future to think as humanitarian and compassionate leaders towards their brothers and sisters living worldwide,” said Rana Khan of the UNHCR.

COSTI’s Mario Calla said the submissions showed the young poets’ empathy and appreciation toward refugee issues. “Their understanding and compassion is often expressed in moving and, sometimes very creative, ways.”