Pauline Eluère: Communicating To Make People Care About Refugees

Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs.

Spiffy here! I’m back with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Pauline Eluère, communications officer at UNHCR, the UN (United Nations) Refugee Agency. Let’s see what she is doing to make a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: It’s wonderful to meet you, Pauline. I’m curious about the challenges UNHCR is addressing. What can you tell me?

Pauline: It’s great to be here, Spiffy! I work for the UNHCR, which is tasked with protecting 100 million people forced to flee their homes because of war and violence. My work is to communicate about refugees and to make people care and take action. I create campaigns for our offices worldwide and I also mobilize tens of thousands of young people to advocate for refugees through a network called the Young Champions for Refugees.

Spiffy: That’s a great mission! What motivates you to do it?

Pauline: My motivation is to see how much young people are motivated to help one another. The members of Young Champions for Refugees, who are part of our network, volunteer, fundraise, and create amazing content to raise awareness about forced displacement.

Spiffy: What is the impact of your work?

Pauline: My work helps refugees because it makes people in their communities care and welcome them. It also gives refugees a platform to share their stories.

Spiffy: That’s amazing! Tell me about a recent organizational milestone or initiative. What impact does that make?

Pauline: We have just launched a big art contest with the clothing brand UNIQLO on the theme ”Hope away from Home”. The best designs will be turned into a collection of shirts to raise funds for refugees. It is allowing young artists, including refugees, to express themselves through art. In addition, it will raise funds for ongoing emergencies.

Spiffy: Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?

Pauline: Everyone can help—whether you are more of a creator, an innovator, an advocate, or a volunteer. Find what you are good at and use it to create good around you!

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Pauline—it’s been an honor!

Pauline Eluère works for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. In this role, she develops strategies and global campaigns for refugee emergencies and communications moments such as the Olympics or World Refugee Day. She also leads initiatives that engage tens of thousands of students. Before joining UNHCR, Pauline worked for the Red Cross and for a mediation think-tank. She holds Master in International Affairs from IHEID (Geneva Graduate Institute), Yale, and Sciences Po. (First published on the Ladderworks website on September 13, 2023.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.