Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic non-governmental organisation whose mission is to serve, accompany and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced people. JRS works in over 50 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health, social and other needs of more than 500,000 refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. In Eastern Africa JRS works in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, reaching out to 105,000 refugees, returnees and forcibly displaced persons. JRS services are made available to refugees and displaced persons regardless of their race, ethnic origin, or religious beliefs.
Who can join JRS?
JRS seeks volunteers and staff who share its vision of accompanying refugees and who are prepared for its complex tasks. JRS volunteers and staff may be lay persons, Jesuits or members of a religious congregation. JRS seeks specialists in education, counselling, rehabilitation, management and related fields. There are also needs for people with technical skills, especially in communication, law, agriculture and small-scale development work.
What qualities does JRS require?
In addition to the obvious desire to serve refugees and asylum seekers, human maturity, considerable flexibility of temperament and a capacity to understand refugees and their circumstances without losing objectivity, these five qualities are essential:
- commitment to training others
- capacity for teamwork and life in a community
- acceptance of a simple lifestyle
- openness to share in a faith journey
- precise professional expertise
If Jesuit Refugee Service Eastern Africa has positions available you will find them advertised below. To check whether there are positions available in other JRS regions click here.
| There are currently no volunteer positions available in the organisation |
| EFL CSLT on-site Facilitator - JRS Thailand |
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term wellbeing of refugees and displaced persons, while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. JRS offers opportunities to a wide variety of staff; local and international, while maintaining a realistic and localised scheme of salary/stipend, insurance, etc. In Thailand, JRS manages six programmes spread throughout urban and rural areas serving refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people in detention. JRS Thailand has field offices in Bangkok, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Ranong, and Wiang Haeng (Chiang Mai). The main areas of work include education, psycho-social services, livelihoods, legal assistance, emergency assistance, medical services, and advocacy. For more information about JRS in Asia Pacific and Thailand, visit: www.jrsap.org Project Description: Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins (JC:HEM) aims to bring Jesuit higher education to those at the margins of society. JC:HEM's volunteer International Faculty staff are drawn from institutions of higher education around the world. Academically JC:HEM offers (a) a three year Diploma in Liberal Studies and (b) several “Community Learning Service Tracks” (CSLTs). CSLTs try to respond to specific needs within the community, seeking to enhance local vocational education, and developing skills that can be applied in the daily lives of those at the margins. CSLTs lead to a certificate, awarded jointly by the University supporting the curriculum, JC:HEM, and JRS. Certification opens the potential for incentive work and other opportunities for refugees. At the same time, CSLTs are also intended to prepare participants with the skills necessary for admission and successful study in the Diploma programme. JC:HEM, in partnership with JRS, currently offers online higher education courses to more than 500 refugees in Malawi, Kenya, Syria and Jordan, and now plans to expand to Thailand. In Thailand JRS has invited JC:HEM to start offering a CSLT in “English as a Foreign Language” (EFL) at Ban Mai Nai Soi camp, in August 2013. Up to twenty students from the camp can enrol in the Track. Role: The EFL CSLT on-site Facilitator will be the person in charge of locally teaching the Track. As with other CSLTs, EFL CSLT will consist of 150 hours of instruction offered over fifteen weeks, with additional practicum hours required for some offerings (and with up to 3 hours per week on-line). In addition, the role will also have a coordination element, liaison with JC:HEM, JRS field and country office staff. |
| Finance Administrator – Kenya Country Office |
Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic organization, with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS has a priority to work wherever the needs of displaced people are urgent and unattended by others, and offers a human service to refugees and the communities through a wide range of rehabilitation and relief activities, many of which center around formal and informal education needs. This is a position for Kenyan nationals and the person will be based in Nairobi. The holder will also be required to travel to the field for project monitoring. |
| Community Service Learning Track Facilitator |
Jesuit Refugee Service is an international humanitarian organization, with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS has a priority to work wherever the needs of displaced people are urgent and unattended by others, and offers a human service to refugees and the communities through a wide range of rehabilitation and relief activities most of which centre around formal and informal education needs. Purpose of position Community Service Learning Track Facilitator (Community Development and Organization) and JC-HEM Diploma in Liberal Studies Liaison The position serves within newly developing pilot online tertiary education partnership between JRS and number of Jesuit Universities in the USA called Jesuit Commons - Higher Education at the Margins (JC-HEM). The position is based in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. The CSLT Facilitator and JC-HEM Diploma in Liberal Studies Liaison will be responsible for the development and delivery of a 15-week (150 hrs total) training of trainers professional course in English Language Learning (ToT-ELL) for refugees and host community members in Kakuma. At the same time, the position serves as a Liaison for 35 students of online Diploma in Liberal Studies program established through JC-HEM. |
