Campaign
Kenya: JRS efforts to combat xenophobia affecting refugees in Nairobi
Nairobi, 09 April 2013 – Since the December 2012 Government of Kenya (GoK) directive for refugees to be relocated to the camps, the message has not been well received by refugees and some local Kenyans particularly in Eastleigh, Nairobi. Attacks on refugees have increased with the perpetrators terming them as terrorists and criminals. Many of the refugees locked themselves in their houses fearing such attacks. Others sought help from Churches especially where the refugees knew JRS operates. 
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On Assignment
South Sudan: Passion for teaching despite the odds
Yambio, South Sudan 16 April 2013 - My name is Elizabeth, a teacher at St Mary’s Primary School in Western Equatoria -Yambio County. I have taught children in several schools in Western and Central Equatoria. My experience has shown that, there are very few female teachers. This seems to be a common problem of schools in Equatoria states.
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Praying with refugees
Kenya: Still celebrating life - Holy Week in Kakuma refugee camp
Kakuma, 09 April 2013 – Living in a refugee camp is often a daunting and excruciating experience. When the refugees try to make sense of their forced displacement, their religious faith offers them some solace and consolation. Here in Kakuma (Kenya), Christians during Holy week have had the opportunity to affirm their faith in life and love despite being in exile.
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On Assignment
Kenya: Celebrating the refugee woman
Nairobi, 20 March 2013 – There was a palpable sense of excitement at the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Kangemi, Nairobi as women dressed in colourful outfits filed into the hall. The date was Friday 15th March 2013 and although the morning was overcast, the women’s colourful outfits brightened the day. The women were from different nationalities including Congolese, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Rwandese, Somalis and some Kenyans. They had gathered to celebrate their day, which is the International Women’s Day.
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Campaign
Kenya: Protecting women and children in Kakuma
Kakuma, 08 March 2013 - Bridging the gender gap and protecting women and children are priorities for most, if not all, NGOs and UN agencies in the camp. Year after year, campaigns are organised to raise awareness of the plight of women, and education and training courses seek to strengthen the position of women. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the many cases reported receive public attention and the perpetrators punished for their crimes.
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Voices
South Sudan: Our lives in school and future dreams
Yambio, 11 March 2013 - Our names are Jane* and Mary*, studying in primary eight at St Mary’s primary school. We like this school because it is good and has teachers who teach us well in class. We wake up very early in the morning to come to school because it’s far from home. We do not like to come late to school otherwise we will be punished by our teachers. We carry wooden chairs from home because our classes do not have chairs. The wooden chairs are heavy and we get tired by the time we arrive in school.
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On Assignment
South Sudan: The puzzle of science practical lessons for secondary schools
Yambio, 11 March 2013 – Secondary schools in Western Equatoria, South Sudan are grappling with a recent government directive to make science lessons more practical. Secondary schools in Western Equatoria have been conducting theoretical science lessons that exclude practicals because the curriculum they had before South Sudan gained independence emphasized on general science.
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Newsroom
South Sudan: Journey begins in the quest for education in Western Equatoria
Yambio, South Sudan, 18 February 2013 - The education infrastructure in Western Equatoria state of South Sudan has contributed to the rate of poor school enrollment and drop-outs. Many of the schools in the state are temporary and semi permanent with just a few permanent ones. Most schools do not have desks and chairs for the pupils. Consequently, students use logs, stumps, stones and blocks as seats.
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On Assignment
Ethiopia: How context shaped my perspective
Dollo Ado, 17 February 2013 - About eight years ago, I started learning about urban refugees through questioning, participatory observation and listening to their stories. In 2012, I passionately started learning new experiences with Somali refugees in Dollo Ado refugee camp complex, Ethiopia.
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On Assignment
Uganda: Creative farming by JRS urban refugee farmers club
Kampala, 15 February 2013 – A refugee farmers’ club, the first of its kind, has been initiated in Kampala, Uganda. The club that has 40 members made up of refugees and asylum seekers was started in December 2012 and includes some JRS staff members.
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On Assignment
South Sudan: JRS extends to Western Equatoria
Yambio, 4 February 2013 - Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has extended its services to Western Equatoria in South Sudan. The hospitality and the needs of the people of Western Equatorial moved JRS in joining them and assist find solutions to their pressing needs. The people of Western Equatoria were displaced due to a long civil war in the Sudan as well an invasion by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

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On Assignment
Uganda: The amazing experience of 2012 JRS Kampala English class
Kampala, 11 January 2013 - There is so much in the world that requires human attention, understanding and patience. The English class of 2012, which was run by the JRS Urban Emergency Project (UEP) in Kampala, Uganda had 166 learners including children and adults. One could see the eagerness on their faces and the anxiety of learning a new language.
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On Assignment
Kenya: Counselling in the refugee community
Nairobi, 1 February 2013 - Counselling is a process of relating and responding between a therapist and a counsellee so that s/he maybe in a position to explore her thoughts, feelings and behaviour in a healthy and relaxed way so as to reach a clearer self-understanding. It also helps a counsellee find and use his or her strengths, weaknesses so that they may cope effectively with life by making appropriate decisions or taking relevant action.

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Newsroom
Kenya: Civil Society calls on Government to end abuse of refugees
Nairobi, 22 January 2013 - Several civil society groups on Tuesday strongly urged that the Kenyan government end police harassment and abuse of refugees and protect the basic human rights of all refugees and Kenyan citizens.

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Voices
Kenya: How ‘logic and critical thinking’ class changed the way I think
Kakuma, 19 January 2013 - Communication plays an important part in our daily lives. This is especially because, as human beings, we are meant to be with others. Part of our life requires that we create relationships with others – in the family, at school, at work places, and in the community.
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Newsroom
Kenya: Providing a safety net for the vulnerable
Nairobi, 11 January 2013 - On a sunny Friday morning members of a group slowly trickle into the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Hall in Eastleigh, Nairobi. The animated conversations and cheerful greetings indicate that they know each other well and have something in common. The mixed crowd of men and women, each carrying a small bag, huddle in small groups talking as they wait for the meeting to start. A curious observer would not easily guess what brings them together.

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On Assignment
Kenya: Ubuntu – Compassion for humanity
Kakuma, December 2012 - When many people hear about refugees, their first image is that of ‘vulnerable’, ‘traumatised’ and ‘incapable’ people who only depend on external support to survive. The reality of things is that what many people think is not true.

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Campaign
Ethiopia: A window to the external world
Dollo Ado, November 2012 - When the adult literacy programme started in February 2012, the number of Somali refugees coming to the JRS centers in the Melkadida Refugee Camp were overwhelming and beyond the accommodation capacity of the classroom tents. Some of the students had to sit down or even stand to attend lessons through the open windows.

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Newsroom
JRS South Sudan video
Nairobi, 17 December 2012 – JRS-Eastern Africa is proud to present a video showing its work in South Sudan since 1997 working with people internally displaced due to the civil war and war-affected persons. The objective of the JRS South Sudan video is to document the main successes and impacts of JRS’s work in South Sudan over 15 years (1997 - 2012).
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Newsroom
Ethiopia: From peace in the home to peace in the world - Sixteen Days of Activism Against SGBV
Addis Ababa, 13 December 2012 – Despite increased awareness and action to combat Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), women and men continue to experience violation of their rights. Incidents of sexual or physical assaults, rape, forced marriage, emotional abuse, denial of resources occur in families and communities worldwide.

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Newsroom
Tributes – Angelo Lagu, JRS South Sudan Country Director
May Lagu Rest in Peace!!!
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Newsroom
Angelo Lagu - A tribute
Nairobi, 7 December 2012 - It is with profound sadness that JRS Eastern Africa announces the sudden and tragic demise of our colleague Lagu Angelo, JRS South Sudan Country Director on the evening of Thursday 6th December 2012. Mr Lagu had just finalised the handover of the Nimule compound and assets to the Representatives of the Catholic Diocese of Torit in Nimule and was on his way home to Loa when he met his fateful death at around 6.30pm through a tragic road accident.

Mr. Lagu is survived by his wife (Mrs Joyce Lagu), 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Apart from his immediate family, he was also taking care of his mother, his sister, and other relatives. In this painful moment, may we all join together to pray for the family and provide any support that is necessary.
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Praying with refugees
Praying with refugees in Nairobi
(Nairobi) December 1, 2012 — Urban refugees in Nairobi live on the margins of society, not legally allowed to work, and struggling in an already over-crowded city. Fleeing violence, political instability and drought, refugees end up living in economically-deprived areas, desperate to find a place to call home, searching for hospitality in an unfamiliar country.
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Campaign
Ethiopia: Sowing the mustard seed
Dollo Ado, October 2012 - Refugee incentive workers at the Melkadida Refugee Camp in Ethiopia have termed a recent workshop organised by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) as a valuable event in their life. The thirty refugee incentive workers benefitted from a three-day workshop on psychosocial assistance organised by the JRS psychosocial programme that took place from 3rd to 5th October 2012 at the JRS training hall at the camp.
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