Refugee Voice Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
October 2015 — Vol 9, Issue 2
Working toward peace through education in South Sudan The
fundamental right of children to education is most at risk during emergencies. Humanitarian crises — including wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and protracted conflict — disrupt education, delay access, and contribute to higher dropout and lower completion rates. When such emergencies result in displacement, the lack of access to quality education can have profound implications for the ability of affected communities to recover and thrive. “I was born in war, I went to school during war, I got married during war, I raised my six children during war and now I am growing old and raising grandchildren in war. I am so sick of war,” said Lucia, 56, at the Jesuit Refugee Service compound in continued on page 2
A Note from the National Director The refugee crisis underway today in Europe is driven by Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, and Eritrean, Sudanese and other African refugees fleeing war and oppressive circumstances. Humanitarian crises disrupt education by delaying access to schools and contributing to higher dropout and lower completion rates. When such emergencies result in displacement, the lack of access to quality education can have profound implications for the ability of affected communities to recover and thrive. From Syria to Afghanistan, from Ethiopian camps hosting Eritrean refugees to South Sudanese communities hosting internally displaced families, JRS seeks to help refugees and the displaced become self-sufficient via our education programs.
A refugee teacher walks home from a long day of classes in Gendrassa refugee camp in Maban. JRS trains teachers to help improve their skills in the classroom. (Angela Wells / Jesuit Refugee Service)
Through our education programs, JRS has been accompanying and serving refugees and internally displaced people in southern Sudan — now the independent country of South Sudan — since 1992. Schools provide hope, and education creates a culture of peace that enables refugees to ease their resettlement and integration into their new countries of refuge, or — the hope of so many — to return home as leaders of their communities to help rebuild their countries. With every good wish and blessing,
J e s u i t R e f u g e e S e r v i c e / US A | 1 0 1 6 1 6 t h S t r e e t , N W, S t e 5 0 0 | W a s h i n g t o n , D C 2 0 0 3 6 | ( 2 0 2 ) 6 2 9 - 5 9 4 3 |
Armando Borja h t t p : / / jr s u s a . o r g
Visit www.jrsusa.org/jrs35 for information about our December commemoration event