Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Asia Pacific is intensifying its work in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In refugee camps in northern Thailand around 2,850 refugee students will switch to a blend of home-based and classroom learning. To this end, JRS … Continued
“Displacement is about real people, and we must always remember that Jesus was once a displaced person.” This is the poignant reminder that 53 international faith-based organisations, including several social justice ministries of the Society of Jesus, expressed in their … Continued
Cambodia seems to have been spared from the worst health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic with cases remaining at 122 since 12 April, no deaths, and no new cases reported to date. Traffic is getting back to normal and many … Continued
The major superiors of the Jesuits in Europe and the Near East have issued a joint statement calling for solidarity across the continent in this experience of the coronavirus pandemic, which “has strengthened the awareness of all the peoples of … Continued
Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are considered among the most vulnerable people, and the Covid-19 crisis has put them at enormous risk. In Myanmar’s Karen State, IDPs living along the Thai border are somewhat hidden from the world. The … Continued
The Jesuit retreat house in Kamakura has transitioned into a shelter for refugees. The Retreat House of Martyrs of Japan is now renamed, Arrupe Nanmin (Refugee) Center, offering refugees a safe place to stay until they are able to get … Continued
Millions of Indian migrants who have left their villages to work in the cities now find themselves stranded with no job or money since the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Most of the … Continued
A most significant event for the Society of Jesus was the release of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) in February 2019. In that spirit, this year’s annual report highlights the modest strides the Jesuits in Asia Pacific have been taking … Continued
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Proverbs 31:8 It has been three years since my colleagues and I started working in Karen State as volunteer teachers. We are happy that our work has developed and is supported … Continued
Fatimeh (not a real name) is a refugee from Afghanistan. She and her family arrived in Indonesia about five years ago. She relates her story to Fransica Asmiarsi, Program Manager of JRS Indonesia, of how JRS helped her and her … Continued