Performers at last year's World Refugee Day event
Photograph by Mark Thiessen

The United National General Assembly designated June 20, 2000 as World Refugee Day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world. Since then, World Refugee Day has become an annual commemoration marked by a variety of events in more than 100 countries. This year, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, will commemorate World Refugee Day for the seventh time, with the theme of “A New Home, A New Life,” reflecting refugees' determination and will to survive, and the contributions they make to their new communities. In support of this worthwhile cause, National Geographic Live! is offering an afternoon of free events to the public at our headquarters in Washington, D.C., featuring musical performances, a soccer demonstation, and a screening of the critically acclaimed film God Grew Tired of Us. Below is a partial schedule of events:

Noon—4 p.m.
Courtyard Stage
Musical Performances hosted by Hmong rapper Tou Ger Xiong:
Havana Select—Cuban music
Memory of African Culture—Malian music and dance
Abonesh—Ethiopian music and dance
Additional group to be confirmed

Noon—4 p.m.
Courtyard
Soccer demonstrations featuring The Fugees, an international team made up of refugees, with balls supplied by Nike; plus vendors selling arts and crafts from around the world, and special activities for children!

4 p.m.
Grosvenor Auditorium
Screening of "God Grew Tired of Us", a critically acclaimed film following the journey of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan from refugee camps in Africa to a new life in the United States.

All Day
National Geographic Museum—Grosvenor Auditorium lobby
Don't miss our exhibit Photo Camp 2006: Uganda, featuring powerful images taken by refugees, ages 11-20, depicting their lives in western Uganda.