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.