World Refugee Day: Migration, Opportunities and Challenges

20 June | World Refugee Day 2026

Today, Saturday, 20 June 2026, the world marks World Refugee Day — a day set aside by the United Nations to honour the courage, strength, and dignity of the millions of people who have been forced to leave their homes. This year’s theme is “Until Everyone Is Safe.” It also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the agreement that first established the basic rights of refugees: the right to seek safety, the right to work, the right to education, and the promise that no one should be sent back to a place where their life or freedom is in danger.

The message this year is simple but powerful: safety cannot be shared by some and denied to others. As long as the most vulnerable among us are not safe, no community is fully safe.

What Does Migration Mean?

Migration simply means people moving from one place to live in another — whether within the same country or across borders. But not all migration is the same, and the differences matter:

A migrant is someone who moves to a new place by their own decision — for work, study, a better life, or to join family.
A refugee is someone forced to flee their country because of war, violence, or persecution, and whose need for protection has been officially recognised.
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country and asked for protection, but whose case has not yet been decided.
A displaced person is someone who has been forced from their home but has not yet crossed a border to another country.

These are not just words. Each situation comes with different rights, different responsibilities, and different paths forward.

According to the latest United Nations figures (June 2026), by the end of 2025 nearly 117.8 million people worldwide had been forced from their homes — and close to four in ten of them are children.

What Opportunities Can Migration Bring?

Migration is not only a story of hardship. For many people, it has opened the door to a new life:

Access to good education. Many refugees and migrants have been able to study at strong universities — a chance that was simply not possible amid war and insecurity back home.
Safety and peace of mind. The first and greatest gain is escaping immediate danger and reaching a place where a person can live without fear.
Work and new skills. Access to jobs, training, and the chance to start a business helps families rebuild their finances and their lives.
Personal freedom — especially for women and girls. For many, migration means regaining the right to learn, to work, and to take part in society.
A bridge between communities. People who settle abroad often become a link between cultures, and many go on to support their home country with knowledge, skills, and resources.

The Risks and Challenges of Migration

Alongside these opportunities, the journey of migration carries real risks that should not be ignored:

Dangerous, irregular routes. Risky journeys, human smuggling, and, in too many cases, lives lost on the way across seas, mountains, and deserts.
Uncertain legal status. Long waits for a decision, the fear of being sent back, and the lack of proper documents keep many people’s lives in limbo.
Money and work struggles. The United Nations estimates that a large share of refugees live in poverty, and even those who are legally allowed to work often cannot find proper, formal jobs.
Emotional and social strain. Being far from home, facing a new language and culture, and dealing with discrimination or isolation all take a heavy toll on mental health.
Children and women at risk. Displaced children often miss out on school and face greater dangers to their safety.

Migration and Afghans: The Reality Today

Afghans make up one of the largest and longest-lasting refugee populations in the world. According to United Nations figures, by the end of 2025 there were around 3.7 million Afghan refugees and others in need of protection. Four out of every five of them live in two neighbouring countries: Iran (about 1.6 million) and Pakistan (about 1.3 million).

But the bigger story of recent years has been the huge — and often forced — wave of returns. Since October 2023, close to 5.4 million Afghans have gone back to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan. In 2025 alone, that number reached about 2.9 million people, and the trend has continued into 2026. The United Nations has warned that the speed and scale of these returns are putting enormous pressure on a country already struggling with a fragile economy, drought, and repeated earthquakes.

Even so, there are signs of hope. The United Nations reports that the profile of those returning is changing — people who have come back in recent years tend to have higher levels of education and are more active in the workforce. In other words, education and human talent can be the key to rebuilding lives.

Opportunities and Benefits of Migration for Afghans

Education as a safe path. Scholarships and study programmes offer a safe and legal way to a better future — without the dangers of irregular routes.
Restoring the right to education for girls. While schooling for girls inside Afghanistan faces serious restrictions, study opportunities abroad can be life-changing.
Empowering the Afghan community abroad. Educated Afghans overseas can become a bridge of knowledge, resources, and experience for their own people.
Jobs and specialised skills. Access to a global job market and professional training strengthens the financial security of families and communities.

The Challenges Afghans Face

Forced returns and legal uncertainty in neighbouring countries.
Limited access to official documents, which makes enrolling in school or work difficult.
Language and financial barriers to continuing education and settling into a new community.
The emotional toll of being displaced again and again, and of living far from home.

In times like these, education is not a luxury — it is the most lasting investment anyone can make in their future. World Refugee Day is a chance to remember that every refugee is, first and foremost, a human being with dreams, talent, and the right to build a future.

Legal and Educational Migration: The Safest and Best Path

Not all migration carries the same risk. When a person moves through legal channels — with the right visa, proper documents, and a recognised status — the journey changes completely. Instead of a dangerous gamble, it becomes a planned and protected step forward. There are no smugglers, no perilous routes, and no constant fear of being sent back. The law is on your side, and your future is built on solid ground.

The strongest form of legal migration is educational migration — moving abroad to study through a scholarship, a university place, or a student visa. We believe this is the best path of all, and the reason is simple: it benefits both you and the country that welcomes you.

Why it is the best choice for you:

It is safe and lawful — no dangerous journeys and no dependence on smugglers.
Your qualifications are recognised, opening real doors to work and a stable future.
It offers a clear and dignified path toward residency and a settled life.
You leave with a degree, skills, and confidence — not just survival.

Why it is good for the host country too:

It brings in talented, motivated young people who fill gaps in the workforce.
Educated migrants contribute to the economy, pay taxes, and build businesses.
They enrich the culture and strengthen ties between nations.

In short, educational migration is not a burden on anyone — it is a shared benefit. You gain a future, and the country that welcomes you gains a capable new member of its society. This is migration at its best: safe, legal, and good for everyone.

So if you are thinking about your future, choose the path of education. It is the safest road, the most respected one, and the one most likely to lead somewhere worth going.

Scholarships and Study Programmes for Refugees

To mark World Refugee Day, we have gathered a list of study opportunities open to migrants and refugees:

1. Full Bachelor’s Scholarship — Monash University, Australia Monash University offers up to 34 full scholarships for asylum seekers and holders of temporary visas at the undergraduate level. More information and apply: https://scholarships.af/opportunity/monash-humanitarian-scholarship-in-australia/

2. Master’s Scholarship — Italy (Human Resources and Organisation) https://scholarships.af/opportunity/master-in-human-resources-and-organization-italy/

3. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship — Germany Levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD. A great opportunity for migrants in Germany and for those who speak German up to B2 level. Applications open: 15 July. Information and apply: https://o4af.com/opportunity/heinrich-boll-foundation-scholarship/

4. Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship for Refugees — Germany Levels: Bachelor’s and Master’s. A great opportunity for migrants in Germany. Application window: 1–30 October. More details: https://o4af.com/opportunity/friedrich-naumann-scholarship-refugees-germany/

5. Master’s Scholarship in Milan, Italy (Human Resources and Organisation) Application deadline: 16 October. Information and apply: https://scholarships.af/opportunity/master-in-human-resources-and-organization-italy/