Taking a Step with Refugees

On World Refugee Day, health and fitness expert Jillian Michaels and USA for UNHCR launched the #StepwithJillian challenge to encourage Americans to show their solidarity with millions of refugee families who have been forced to flee their homes.

The challenge asked each supporter to walk 100 miles and commit to raise $100 to help refugees. By the end of July, more than 1100 supporters had joined the campaign, raising $85,156 in support of UNHCR’s lifesaving work. For every $100 raised, UNHCR was able to provide three emergency rescue kits with essentials – water, towels, thermal blankets, energy bars, dry clothing and shoes – to vulnerable refugee families.

What inspired Jillian Michaels to take a step for refugees?

In March 2019, Michaels traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to better understand the refugee crisis and find ways to offer relief. After spending two hours on a bus with newly arrived South Sudanese refugee women and children who were transferred to Biringi refugee settlement, she was able to hear first-hand their stories and experience the reunification of friends who hadn’t seen each other in years.

“Having had the privilege of meeting with refugees has forever changed me. Hearing their heartbreaking stories and learning about their incredible journeys to safety deeply inspired me to do more and to be better for myself and for them,” Jillian explained.