Every year in June, communities worldwide come together to observe Refugee Week, a time to celebrate the strength, creativity, and resilience of refugees and those seeking sanctuary. This year, from 16 to 22 June 2025, the world’s largest arts and culture festival dedicated to refugees is united under a powerful theme: “Community as a Superpower”. At MOAS, this theme resonates deeply with our mission and daily work, as we witness firsthand how communities can transform lives through acts of solidarity, kindness, and shared purpose.
Why “Community as a Superpower”?
The theme for Refugee Week 2025 invites us to reflect on the everyday magic of community. It serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It urges us to look beyond grand gestures and focus on the quiet, everyday magic that occurs when people come together. In a world often divided by borders, languages, and circumstances, community is the invisible thread that binds us, offering hope, strength, and belonging, especially to those who need it most. Refugee Week is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of background or events, deserves to feel safe, valued, and included. This week reminds us to spend time with friends, build new connections, and rediscover our collective power. It’s about coming together over food, music, stories, or shared activities to create spaces where hope can take root and flourish.
MOAS: Harnessing the Power of Communities
MOAS has always believed in the superpower of community. Founded to respond quickly and efficiently to humanitarian crises, MOAS is committed to mitigating human suffering and providing aid to those who need it most. Our work is grounded in solidarity, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, values that are only possible through the collective efforts of our global community.
MOAS Activities for Refugee Week 2025: Community in Action
Refugee Week is a time to celebrate the incredible power of community, and at MOAS, we are thrilled to be part of a vibrant lineup of events in Malta that bring this theme to life. This year, we invite everyone to join us in experiences that connect people through language, food, and meaningful conversation, reminding us of all that community truly is a superpower.
One of the most exciting events this Refugee Week is Lingo Bingo, happening on the evening of June 21st at Blue Door Education in Valletta. Imagine a speed-dating-style gathering, but instead of meeting potential dates, you encounter new words and phrases from languages around the world. Lingo Bingo is designed to be fun, fast, and full of surprises, welcoming everyone with curiosity rather than any prior language skills. It’s a joyful celebration of cultural exchange, where participants share smiles and laughter as they discover the beauty of diversity through language. Hosted by MOAS in partnership with the Maltese NGO Blue Door Education, this free event embodies the spirit of community by breaking down barriers and building connections in the most playfully.
Food, of course, is another universal language that brings people together, and MOAS is proud to co-host the cooking workshop Food As a Bridge of Cultures on the morning of June 21st at the Valletta Design Cluster. Led by the inspiring Migrant Women Association Malta alongside MOAS, this hands-on workshop offers participants the chance to prepare traditional dishes from Syria, Pakistan, and Mexico. From the flaky layers of Syrian Fatira and the sweet richness of Baklava to the fragrant spices of Pakistani Chicken Pulao and the vibrant flavours of Mexican Tortas, each recipe tells a story of heritage, migration, and resilience. No prior cooking experience is necessary, just an open heart and a willingness to learn. This workshop is more than just cooking; it’s a celebration of cultural heritage and the way sharing a meal can build bridges between communities.
MOAS’s commitment to refugee protection also extends to advocacy and awareness-raising, and this is reflected in our participation in the “Protection Begins at Sea” conference on June 20th, World Refugee Day in Malta. Organized by the Malta Refugee Council, of which MOAS is a proud member, this event takes place at the Catholic Institute in Floriana and brings together local and international experts to discuss the urgent realities of refugee crossings in the Mediterranean. The conference features two expert panels: one examining the current situation of refugees at sea, and another focusing on how we can enhance protection for those undertaking perilous journeys. Attendees will also experience a powerful multi-sensory exhibit featuring testimonies and objects from Mediterranean crossings, making the human stories behind the headlines tangible and immediate. The event concludes just in time for the annual March for Peace, a moving demonstration of solidarity that celebrates Refugee Week and the ongoing fight for refugee rights.
Through these activities, MOAS is proud to highlight how the community is not merely a concept but a living, breathing force that saves lives, fosters understanding, and creates hope. Whether it’s through learning a few words in a new language, sharing a meal steeped in tradition, or engaging in critical conversations about protection and justice, Refugee Week 2025 offers countless opportunities to experience the superpower of community in action.
Call to Action
This Refugee Week, we invite you to join this powerful movement. Attend our events, engage with new cultures, listen to voices that often go unheard, and open your heart to the stories that connect us all. Whether you join us at Lingo Bingo, the cooking workshop, or the Protection Begins at Sea conference, your presence helps build bridges and fosters a world where everyone belongs.
But beyond these events, community is something we can all nurture every day in our neighbourhoods, workplaces, and social circles. Reach out, learn, share, and stand in solidarity. Together, we can harness the superpower of community to create safer, more welcoming spaces for refugees and all those seeking a better life.
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Disclaimer: “Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.”