Gimme Shelter
Every year on June 20th, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) honors the millions of people throughout the world who have been displaced from their homes and forced to seek asylum from war torn regions, natural disasters or religious, social and political persecution. But what began as World Refugee Day eight years ago has now evolved into a weeklong awareness campaign around the pressing local, regional and global issues affecting refugees around the globe.
Microsoft has been working together with the UNHCR since 1999 to apply creative technology solutions that help improve refugees’ standard of living, education and job opportunities. Over the last ten years, our partnership has included:
- The development of ProGres, a standardized software system to support refugee registration. ProGres currently operates in 308 refugees camps across 58 countries.
- Collaboration under UNHCR’s Council of Business Leaders, composed of private sector partners dedicated to raising and distributing funds in support of refugees.
- Support to the ninemillion.org campaign aimed at providing education and sporting opportunities to refugee children.
- Launch of the Community Technology Access program to bring computers and internet access to camps, helping refugees access education opportunities and skills training.
Today, Microsoft and the UNHCR announced another collaboration - to help raise funds for the now over 40 million refugees and Internally Displaced People desperately needing shelter around the world, Microsoft Student will donate $1 for every person who joins and match any donation made to UNHCR's “Gimme Shelter” Cause on Facebook. Named after the legendary Rolling Stones song, the “Gimme Shelter” campaign was launched in 2008 with a series of short films directed by Ben Affleck to raise funds and awareness for UNHCR emergencies.
This year, with the world economic crisis threatening to slash aid budgets and amid enormous global uncertainty, we need to ensure refugees are not forgotten. Please help us support this important cause and join or donate here: www.causes.com/refugee.
From all of us at Microsoft, we thank you!
-- William Calarese
International PR Director for Unlimited Potential
