With the impacts of ongoing conflict currently being felt worldwide, it is estimated that 110 million people are being forcibly displaced and over 36.4 million are now refugees. So what can we do to support the children and families being most impacted by war and displacement? Let’s take a look at how we can help to spread awareness this World Refugee Day.
When is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is on Thursday 20th June 2024.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is an international day designed to celebrate and honour refugees around the world. The event aims to recognise the strength and courage of refugees who have fled conflict and persecution in their home country, in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families abroad.
The families impacted by these events often attempt to travel to different countries to pursue a better life and more stable living conditions. While ongoing conflict is the most common reason for families to flee their native country, other factors such as human rights breaches and poor working conditions, can also influence their decision.
Unfortunately, other countries often close their borders or put obstacles in place that make it difficult for refugees to enter. These barriers make seeking asylum and safety much more difficult. Ensuring that refugees are granted asylum and are not forcibly returned to countries where their lives or freedoms would be threatened, is one of the key objectives highlighted by World Refugee Day.
Why is World Refugee Day held?
On December 4 2000, the United Nations General Assembly resolved that 20th June would be designated as World Refugee Day. The resolution marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention that defined who a refugee is, and set out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum – including the responsibilities of nations who grant asylum.
The United Nations states that World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees, as well as to recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives. The day aims to increase awareness in the general public of the need for refugees to find asylum, as well as to influence political will and access to the resources required by refugees to thrive in their new homes.
This World Refugee Day, ChildFund is helping support children and families facing extreme challenges in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Over 1 million people have been trapped in a forgotten situation since 2017. Overwhelmingly, the majority are children with little hope for a way out. Your support can help them navigate this ongoing crisis and stay safe.
What is the theme of World Refugee Day 2024?
The theme of World Refugee Day 2024 is ‘Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety’. This refers to the fact that everyone on this planet has the right to be safe, no matter who they are, where they come from, and when they choose to seek it. The United Nations Refugee Agency states that there are five aspects to seeking safety:
- The right to seek asylum: Any person fleeing conflict, persecution, or other human rights abuses has the right to seek protection and safety in another country.
- The need for safe access: When people need to flee danger, borders should always stay open. Sudden restrictions, border closures, or redirection make a refugee’s journey to safety even more complicated and dangerous. This shouldn’t happen.
- No pushbacks or resistance: People and families cannot be forced back to the country they came from or anywhere where their freedom and life would be threatened. Other countries should not return refugees without first weighing up the danger the person would face.
- Fair consideration – no discrimination: When refugees come to the borders, they should not be discriminated against. Every person applying for refugee status should be considered fairly, irrespective of the country they are coming from, their religion, their race, and their gender.
- Humane treatment: Anyone forced to flee danger should be treated with full dignity and respect, just like any other person. Families should be kept together, people should be protected from trafficking, and arbitrary detention should never occur.
How can I support World Refugee Day 2024?
There are several ways that you can provide support during this year’s World Refugee Day:
Donate to our Emergency Appeal
Children and families living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar desperately need the skills and tools to navigate life in extremely vulnerable conditions. They wake each day not knowing if there will be enough to eat or drink or how to best protect themselves against the violence that permeates the camp, as well as the ever-present threat of disasters. In fact, the fires are literal. Due to overcrowding, congested infrastructure and lack of proper firefighting resources, fires pose significant danger to the community. You can make a donation to our Cox’s Bazar Appeal now and help children stay safe.
Create a Facebook fundraiser
Did you know you can create a fundraiser on Facebook for ChildFund Australia? You can help to support this year’s World Refugee Day by setting up a fundraiser for our Cox’s Bazar Appeal. You can invite family and friends to donate and support the cause also.
Host a morning tea
Set aside some time to talk about World Refugee Day with your co-workers by setting up a morning tea fundraiser in your office or organisation. A staff member coin donation could be suggested, with the proceeds going to our Cox’s Bazar Appeal to support the increasing number of refugees in Bangladesh.
Together we can support refugees worldwide, by raising funds and increasing awareness this World Refugee Day.
Use our tax calculator to estimate the potential tax benefit of your donation.
The actual cost of your donation is
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Because you save
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This table is based upon 2018-2019 ATO individual Income Tax rates. The above rates do not include the Medicare Levy of 2%. The exact level of your tax deductibility will vary depending on your present financial circumstances. Please seek assistance from an independent taxation professional for formal guidelines.
Tax time is fast approaching.
While going through your income and expenses over the past financial year can be a taxing affair, there are some easy ways to minimise the stress and boost your tax refund through a charitable donation.
Donating to charity is not only a great way to give back and create positive change in developing communities, but donations are a great way to also reduce your taxable income. This means you’ll pay less tax, while helping refugees, children and mothers in need.
Most of the donations you’ve made to charity over the past year are tax deductible, so start gathering those receipts and counting how much you’ve given back, to get back on your tax year refund.
Is my donations tax deductible?
Yes, charitable gifts and donations can be tax deductible. However, not all charitable organisations qualify for this initiative. Here’s how tax deductible donations work, you can only claim a tax return for gifts or donations to organisations that have the status of ‘deductible gift recipients (DGR)’. DGRs are simply charities or organisations that are officially registered to receive tax deductible gifts. You can find more information on this below.
To review more details on what types of charities qualify for this initiative you can read more on the ATO website.
Are companies and businesses able to claim tax deductible donations?
Businesses can claim donations to charity on their taxes just like individuals. Tax time is a great opportunity to amp up workplace giving programs or social responsibility schemes.
As a business owner, or executive, all you need to do is donate a cash gift to your chosen charity and keep the receipt. The ATO will recognise your donation as a deductible gift to charity.
How a tax deductible donation can boost your tax return
It is a fairly straightforward process to make and claim a tax donation, but if you are ever unsure then contact a professional, like your tax agent.
There are a range of factors to consider when making a charitable donation to boost your Australian tax return. Whether you’re making a regular donation, or donating for the first time, we’ve got five quick tips to help you make the most out of your giving.
1 – Make sure your charity is registered
“Gift” donations (when you donate money or property to charity without receiving any material benefit in return) can only be claimed on your tax return if your charity has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
You can check whether your chosen charity is reputable and registered as a DGR, on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website
Does claiming a tax deductible donation affect the amount of money a charity receives?
Claiming a tax deduction from a gift donation doesn’t affect the amount of money the charity receives, just what you’re entitled to deduct at tax time.
It is a mutually beneficial gift that reduces your taxable income. Claim a deduction and support individuals and families living in disadvantaged communities.
2 – Keep your donation receipts
Donations that are $2 or more are tax deductible. Get and keep the receipt of any donation you make in case you need to show your tax agent or accountant, or the ATO. The ATO recommends keeping receipts for five years after completing your tax return in case they need to ask you to substantiate your claim.
You can keep a record of your tax deductions and income in one place on the myDeductions app.
3 – Know and record your “contributions”
In addition to gift donations, you may be able to claim a tax deduction on any “contributions” you’ve made to charity.
A contribution is when you receive something with a monetary value from the charity in return for your donation. For example, a ticket to a fundraising dinner would not be considered as a gift donation but it may be considered as a contribution.
You may be able to claim a part of your contribution as a tax deduction.
4 – Talk to a tax agent/accountant
The limit to how much you can claim will depend on the type of gift or contribution you make. If you’re unsure about what and how much you can claim as a tax deduction, or sifting through your income and expenses over the past year just seems too time-consuming or complicated, consider visiting an accountant or tax agent for tax advice.
5 – Support a charity or cause that matters to you
If you’re at a loss at which charity to choose, but want to make a donation for tax purposes, a good strategy is to think about what matters to you.
Find out if a charity supports individual donations
Individuals might wish to choose a charity that aligns with their personal values and ethics. Some charities might relate to your family history or challenges you’ve faced in the past. Tax refund time is an opportunity to support others facing similar circumstances, and help people in need overcome them.
You may also reflect upon your circumstances and donate to support those living in conditions different to what you’ve experienced. Tax time can be used as a moment of reflection, to be thankful we are who we are, and give back to those in need.
In either case, you might decide to support children and communities, or donate to protect refugee children living in the world’s largest refugee camp. These are only some ways to choose a charity at tax time, but what’s important is that you give to a cause that matters to you.
Choosing a charity for corporate donations
Businesses and corporations could align their choice with their company values or culture. For example, if you’re a recruiter, you may wish to support communities facing heavy unemployment or poverty rates. Caterers might donate to feed families impacted by crisis, and communication-based organisations could donate school supplies to support education.
We also have a range of other initiatives that may catch your interest, such as donating to our Child Protection appeal. You can view our selection of initiatives on the ChildFund Appeals page.
Give Back to Get Back
If you haven’t donated to charity in the past financial year, it’s not too late! Donations made before 30 June, in any amount above $2, are considered tax deductible, and will raise the value of your tax return.
All you need to do is search for charities online, choose a cause that you care about, and make a donation. If you would like to support children in developing communities, visit our donation portal now.
For more information on charity donations and tax deductions, visit the Tax Office and ACNC websites.
