World Refugee Day 2025 - June 20, 2025

Each year on 20 June, the world honours the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.

Source: UNHCR

What is a Refugee?

Refugees — people who have fled their home countries due to conflict, violence, persecution, or human rights violations — now number upwards of 43 million globally, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in its latest Global Trends report. The increase is mainly driven by new displacements from the conflict in Sudan and updated reporting from other countries.

Each year, the United Nations and people worldwide recognize the plight of refugees on June 20, World Refugee Day. Explore the challenges faced by refugees and find out more about the global refugee crisis.

Fast Facts: Refugees

• In 2023, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people. By April 2024, this number had surpassed 120 million, according to UNHCR’s Global Trends report.
• 6.9 million people are asylum seekers (seeking refugee status), and 68.3 million are internally displaced.
• One in every 69 people (1.5% of the global population) is now forcibly displaced. This is a significant increase — nearly double the 1 in 125 a decade ago.
• Syria leads in terms of numbers with 13.8 million people forcibly displaced within and outside of its borders.
• The burden of hosting forcibly uprooted populations falls heavily on low- and middle-income countries, which shelter 75% of the world’s refugees and other displaced people.
• 40% of all forcibly displaced people are children.

Source: World Vision International

Elida Academy’s Statement of Faith

Elida Academy’s Statement of Faith

At Elida Academy, we are dedicated to upholding the truth of the Gospel and providing an education for refugees, indigenous communities, and displaced people, firmly rooted in a biblical worldview. Our faith is guided by the following core beliefs:

The Bible – We affirm that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, serving as the ultimate foundation for our faith and daily life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Trinity – We believe in one God who eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus Christ – We profess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected, and will return in glory (John 1:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Salvation – We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. All who trust in Him are forgiven, justified, and granted eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Holy Spirit – We affirm that the Holy Spirit indwells believers, empowering them to live godly lives and equipping them for service in God’s kingdom (Romans 8:9-11).

The Church – We believe the Church is the body of Christ, called to worship, fellowship, and share the Gospel with the world (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Christian Living – We are committed to living according to biblical principles—pursuing integrity, morality, and love—so that every aspect of our lives honors God (Colossians 3:17).

The Great Commission – We embrace Christ’s command for all believers to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

Background

At Elida Academy, these foundational beliefs shape our approach to education for refugees, indigenous communities,  and displaced people, encouraging these students to grow in wisdom, faith, and service to God. We are committed to providing a Christ-centered learning environment that integrates faith, knowledge, and daily living.

We affirm that love and obedience to Jesus’ commands are the true marks of the Christian faith (Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:46; John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:3). Obedience to Christ is inseparable from faith in Him (John 14:15, 14:23, 15:10; James 1:22-25; Romans 6:17).

At Elida Academy, we read Scripture through a Christ-centered lens, emphasizing Jesus’ teachings and example—particularly the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and His sacrifice on the cross. In accordance with His teachings, we are committed to guarding our hearts (Matthew 5:3-30) and loving our enemies.

Furthermore, we embrace Jesus' call to Christian peacemaking, recognizing the mandate to love our enemies without prejudice, to pray for the safety and well-being of all people, without discrimination (Timothy 2:1-4), and to serve sacrificially in response to natural disaster, persecution, war and injustice.

Vision and Mission Statement of Elida Academy

 Vision of Elida Academy

To advocate and to be a hub for higher education for refugees, indigenous communities, and displaced people worldwide, wherever God may have called us to be.

Mission Statement of Elida Academy

At Elida Academy, we are dedicated to embodying Christ’s love by providing a safe, nurturing, and high-quality education for refugees, indigenous communities, and displaced individuals who have endured war, natural disasters, persecution, and injustice. Rooted in faith, compassion, and the pursuit of knowledge, we seek to empower students with the skills, wisdom, and spiritual foundation necessary to rebuild their lives and create a future filled with hope.

Through holistic education, we strive to cultivate resilience, dignity, and a sense of belonging, ensuring that each student is valued as a child of God. We are committed to fostering a community of inclusion, grace, and academic excellence, equipping learners with the confidence to transform their circumstances and be a beacon of light in the world.

Guided by Christian principles, we stand as a sanctuary of learning, healing, and restoration, knowing that education is a powerful force for justice, redemption, reconciliation, and lasting change.