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On Assignment Welcome to On Assignment at Jesuit Refugee Service International Office. Here you can read in-depth accounts of the experiences of staff in the field as they reflect on the delivery of services and the accompaniment of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. |
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Sur le terrain Bienvenus à Sur le terrain, au Bureau international du Service Jésuite des Réfugiés. Ici, vous pourrez lire des comptes rendus approfondis sur des expériences vécues par le personnel sur le terrain, qui reflètent la fourniture de services ainsi l'accompagnement de réfugiés et autres personnes déplacées de force. |
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Sobre el terreno Bienvenido a Sobre el Terreno de la Oficina Internacional del Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados. Aquí encontrarás descripciones en profundidad de las experiencias del personal sobre el terreno a través de sus reflexiones sobre los servicios y el acompañamiento a refugiados y otras personas desplazadas por la fuerza. |
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Dal campo Benvenuto nella sezione Dal campo dell'Ufficio Internazionale del Servizio dei Gesuiti per i Rifugiati. Qui trovi resoconti dettagliati delle esperienze dello staff nel lavoro sul campo, con riflessioni sui servizi offerti e sull’accompagnamento dei rifugiati e di altri migranti forzati. |
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Geneva: the centrality of faith 24 May 2013 Geneva, 20 May 2012 - Recognising that faith plays a pivotal role in the experience of refugees is key to offering protection. There was no denying this reality during a high-level dialogue on faith and protection organised by UNHCR in Geneva in December 2012, which explored the centrality of faith for refugees, the strengths and challenges of faith-based organisations (FBOs) as well as their relationship with other humanitarian actors. However the UN agency admitted the need and announced steps to become more "faith-literate" to reach a deeper understanding of all these elements. Read more >> |
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All that is not given is lost 10 January 2013 Chennai, 10 January 2013 – Pierre Ceyrac SJ died early on 30 May 2012 in Chennai at the age of 98. Pierre served with JRS in the camps of Cambodian refugees in Thailand from the early 1980s, indeed since the beginning of JRS. When Pierre died, a former JRS worker wrote, "an era of compassion without borders ends". Read more >> |
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Colombia: life is stronger than death 27 December 2012 Buenaventura, 27 December 2012 – First day... 29 June 2008: A wonderful Sunday afternoon. Children ran in every possible direction on the football pitch and community grounds of San Francisco district in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca. Men and women bustled around, preparing activities to celebrate life as a community, with music, singing and laughter. It was an occasion worth celebrating: the closure of an intensive process of formation and exchange of ideas, of identifying ways to live in such an adverse environment. Read more >> |
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Jordan: when education is more than just learning 15 October 2012 Amman, 15 October 2012 – For eight months former Jesuit Refugee Service volunteer, Grace Benton, worked in a team of volunteers trying to offer refugees and their children the support they need to build a future. The courses went from strength to strength; but as she learned, the results were about more than learning curricular subjects, there were about building community and making refugees safer. Read more >> |
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Democratic Republic of Congo: lives hanging in the balance in North Kivu 28 February 2012 North Kivu, 28 February 2012 – Emmanuel Mirimo Mateene used to own a house and a small piece of farm land. His life was peaceful and it was relatively easy for him to put food on the table for his family. But that was before broke out war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more >> |
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Ecuador: invisible Colombian refugees, discrimination and an uncertain future 02 February 2012 Quito, 02 February 2012 – Javier González* was teaching his nine-year-old son Miguel how to play chess when Miguel's mother, Rosa, interrupted their game to ask him what had happened at school today. Read more >> |
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Portugal: going the extra mile, a focus on mental health 01 November 2011 Brussels, 01 November 2011 – JRS Europe Media Assistant Cathal Foley speaks to mental health counsellor Sr Maria Jose Rebelo who explains the importance of addressing psychosocial needs of forced migrants. Read more >> |
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Jordan: Iraqi family mourns loss of daughter 20 April 2011 Amman, 20 April 2011 – Wafi Youssif recalls asking his daughter Raghda not to go to church because they had become targets for bombing attacks. She told her dad: "If I have to die, I don't mind dying in church". Unfortunately, a few hours later she did. Read more >> |
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Ecuador: effects of the Colombian conflict hit women refugees 15 November 2010 Quito, 11 November 2010 – I am haunted by our delegation’s visit to the border town of Lago Agrio, Ecuador, haunted by the stories of desperation from the refugee population, haunted by the lack of security offered to the residents, haunted by the lack of civilian state presence and the lack of UN presence besides UNHCR, haunted by the abuse suffered by the people at the hands of Colombian armed groups, the local police and even the Ecuadorian military. Read more >> |
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Democratic Republic of Congo: building schools, Bringing hope 03 September 2010 Washington DC, 9 September 2010 – It’s always a happy moment to accompany refugees as they return home after years of living in exile. For nearly 10 years Jesuit Refugee Service had cared for Congolese refugees, driven by war from their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Mwange Camp in northern Zambia. Although the camp was not far from the border with their home country, the ongoing conflict in the DRC made return impossible. Read more >> |
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Haiti: planting hope in Koujol 26 August 2010 "Jesuit Refugee Service has been more than a father to us all!" With these words Clauden and Damais, the president and treasurer of a local community group in Koujol, Haiti, summed up the role that JRS has played during the past year in helping a group of 200 local farmers begin an innovative farming project in this small community just a stone’s throw from Haiti’s northeast border with the Dominican Republic. Read more >> |
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USA: meeting spiritual needs in immigration detention centres 26 August 2010 John Krambuhl worked with JRS USA, focusing on the religious needs of immigration detainees in US government-sponsored detention facilities. Afterwards, John joined the faculty of Jesuit High School in Tampa to teach Theology and Ethics. John offered these reflections on his time spent with JRS USA. Read more >> |
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USA: affirming human dignity in detention centres 26 August 2010 I asked myself, “How can one celebrate the freedom that Christ brings us in a detention center?” Still, I knew that ‘Christ the King’ was with these three hundred men. When the words of Gospel of Matthew 25 were proclaimed, a number of heads nodded in understanding. They knew Jesus was speaking about them: ‘When I was in prison, you came and visited me. . . . Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to me.” These men knew what it means to be hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, what it means to be a stranger. Some of them had crossed the border long ago; some had crossed it only days before; all of them sought work in the US and a brighter future for their families. The poverty in their home countries — Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico — had forced them to move North. Read more >> |
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Burundi: you have not forgotten us, a goat programme 30 June 2010 In 2008 the government of Burundi and the rebel armed forces finally reached a negotiated peace settlement that marked the end of nearly two decades of conflict. During the past two years more than 95,000 Burundians have returned home after having spent nearly twelve years as refugees in Tanzania. In the face of this large influx of poor refugees, we asked ourselves how we could help create an environment that ensured adequate food for them as they return to Burundi. Read more >> |
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Democratic Republic of Congo: quality indicators of JRS accompaniment 18 June 2010 Bujumbura, 18 June 2010 – ‘Quality’ and ‘impact’ have become key words in humanitarian discourse. Although it is easy to discuss these issues, it is not easy to assess the quality of our work. It is simpler to assess the quantity of services we provide: the number of schools built, books distributed, children in schools. However, when we talk about ‘accompaniment’ – the first word in the JRS mission – it is more complex to assess quality. Read more >> |
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Thailand: A new way of being present 06 December 2009 Mae Hong Son, 6 December 2010 – When I was a novice in Scotland many years ago, our novice master faced the challenges of directing young men in the Jesuit way of life, but at a time when the world and the Church were going through profound changes. The end of the 1960s brought the Paris revolution of the young, and the Church was still grappling with the implications of its engagement with the world after Vatican II. Read more >> |
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Nepal: difficult decisions, resettlement or the possibility of repatriation 15 April 2008 In comparison to many other refugee camps I have visited, there is a surprising lack of international presence in the Bhutanese camps. Camp administration is carried out by Camp Management Committees composed of the refugees themselves, with half of the positions occupied by women. Refugees carry out such functions as food distribution and provide the teaching staff for JRS schools, receiving only a small "incentive" payment as return for dedicated volunteer service. Read more >> |
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Sri Lanka: destruction and suffering in 'post-conflict' society 25 February 2008 In December 2007 Fr Ken Gavin, JRS USA Director, and Ron Ferreri, Development Director, visited the Mannar, Vavuniya and Batticaloa areas of Sri Lanka. Read more >> |
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Genève: la centralité de la foi 24 May 2013 Genève, 20 mai 2013 - Reconnaître que la foi joue un rôle-clé dans l'expérience des réfugiés est essentiel pour offrir une protection. Tout le monde a été d'accord avec cette vérité au cours du dialogue sur la foi et la protection organisé par le HCR à Genève en décembre 2012, où ont été analysés la centralité de la foi pour les réfugiés, les points forts et les défis que rencontrent les organisations confessionnelles ainsi que leurs liens avec les autres acteurs humanitaires. Toutefois, l'agence de l'ONU a reconnu la nécessité d'accroître sa propre "connaissance sur la foi" et a annoncé des actions en vue d'approfondir sa compréhension de tous ces éléments. Lire la suite >>> |
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Tout ce qui n'est pas donné est perdu 10 January 2013 Chennai, 10 janvier 2013 – Pierre Ceyrac SJ est décédé le 30 mai 2012 à Chennai, à l'âge de 98 ans. Pierre travailla avec le JRS dans les camps de réfugiés cambodgiens en Thaïlande depuis le début des années 1980, depuis le début du JRS. Quand Le Père Pierre mourut, un ancien membre du JRS a écrit, «une ère de compassion sans frontières s'achève». Lire la suite >>> |
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Colombie: entre la vie et la mort 27 December 2012 Buenaventura, 27 décembre 2012 – Premier jour... 29 juin 2008: Un merveilleux dimanche après-midi. Les enfants couraient dans toutes les directions possibles sur les terrains de football du district de San Francisco à Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca. Hommes et femmes s'affairaient à préparer des activités pour célébrer la vie de la communauté, avec de la musique, des chants et des rires. C'était une occasion: la conclusion d'un processus intensif d'échange d'idées afin d'identifier des moyens de vivre dans un tel environnement. Lire la suite >>> |
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Jordanie: Lorsque l'éducation dépasse le simple apprentissage 15 October 2012 Amman, le 15 octobre 2012 – Pendant huit mois, Grace Benton, une ancienne bénévole du JRS, a travaillé dans une équipe de bénévoles pour proposer aux réfugiés et à leurs enfants le soutien dont ils avaient besoin pour construire leur avenir. Les progrès ont été constants ; et elle a vite compris que les résultats concernaient bien plus que l'apprentissage en matière académique, ils concernaient la construction de la communauté et la sécurité des réfugiés. Lire la suite >>> |
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République Démocratique du Congo (RDC): Au nord Kivu, des vies sont en balance 28 February 2012 Nord Kivu, le 28 février 2012 – Emmanuel Mirimo Mateene avait une petite maison et un lopin de terre agricole. Il menait une vie paisible et il lui était relativement facile de nourrir sa famille. Mais c'était avant la guerre qui a ravagé la République Démocratique du Congo. Lire la suite >>> |
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Equateur: Des réfugiés colombiens invisibles, discrimination et avenir incertain 02 February 2012 Quito, le 2e février 2012 – Javier Gonzales apprenait son fils Miguel âgé de neuf ans à jouer aux échecs, lorsque Rosa, la mère de ce dernier, interrompit leur partie pour lui demander ce qui s'était passé à l'école ce jour-là. Lire la suite >>> |
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Equateur : les effets du conflit colombien affligent les femmes réfugiées 15 November 2010 Quito, 11 novembre 2010 - Je suis hanté par la visite de notre délégation à la ville frontière de Lago Agrio, en Equateur, hanté par les histoires de désespoir de la population de réfugiés, hanté par le manque de sécurité offerte aux résidents, hanté par le manque de présence de l'Etat civil et le manque de présence de l'ONU aux côtés de l'UNHCR, hanté par les abus subis par les personnes de la main de groupes armés colombiens, de la police locale et même de militaires équatoriens. Lire la suite >>> |
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République Démocratique du Congo : construire des écoles, apporter de l'espoir 03 September 2010 C'est toujours un moment de bonheur quand l'heure est venue d'accompagner les réfugiés qui rentrent chez eux après des années d'exil. Pendant près de dix ans, le JRS s'est occupé de réfugiés congolais que la guerre avait poussés hors de leurs foyers, de la République Démocratique du Congo jusqu'au camp Mwange, dans le Nord de la Zambie. Même si le camp n'était pas loin de la frontière entre les deux pays, le conflit en cours en RDC ne permettait pas le retour. Lire la suite >>> |
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République Démocratique du Congo : indicateurs de qualité de l'accompagnement du JRS 18 June 2010 Bujumbura, 18 juin 2010 – ‘Qualité' et ‘impact' sont devenus des mots-clés dans le langage humanitaire. S'il est facile de discuter de ces questions, il est moins facile d'évaluer la qualité de notre travail. C'est plus simple d'apprécier la quantité de services que nous procurons : le nombre d'écoles construites, de livres distribués, d'enfants allant à l'école. Mais quand nous parlons d' ‘accompagnement' – le premier mot de la mission du JRS – il est plus complexe d'évaluer la qualité. Lire la suite >>> |
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Ginebra: la importancia crucial de la fe 24 May 2013 Ginebra, 20 de mayo de 2013 - Reconocer el papel esencial de la fe en la experiencia de los refugiados es clave a la hora de ofrecer protección. Era algo indiscutible durante el diálogo de alto nivel sobre fe y protección, organizado por el ACNUR en Ginebra en diciembre de 2012, que exploró la importancia crucial de la fe para los refugiados, las fortalezas y los desafíos de las organizaciones confesionales, así como su relación con otros actores humanitarios. Sin embargo, la agencia de la ONU reconoció la necesidad de dar pasos para "conocer mejor la fe" y así llegar a un entendimiento más profundo de todos estos elementos. Leer más >>> |
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Todo lo que no se da se pierde 10 January 2013 Chennai, 10 de enero de 2013 – Pierre Ceyrac SJ falleció la madrugada del 30 de mayo de 2012 en Chennai, a los 98 años. Pierre sirvió con el JRS en los campamentos de refugiados camboyanos en Tailandia desde principios de 1980, desde el comienzo del JRS. Cuando Pierre murió, un ex trabajador del JRS escribió, "termina una era de compasión sin fronteras". Leer más >>> |
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Colombia: entre la muerte y la vida 27 December 2012 Buenaventura, 27 de diciembre de 2012 - Primer día… 29 de junio de 2008. Maravillosa tarde de domingo. Niños y niñas corren en todas las direcciones posibles por la cancha de fútbol y el espacio comunitario del Barrio San Francisco, en Buenaventura. Hombres y mujeres se preparan para celebrar la vida como comunidad con música, canciones y risas. No era para menos, se clausuraba un intenso proceso de formación, de intercambio de ideas, de identificación de caminos a seguir en medio de un entorno tan adverso. Leer más >>> |
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Jordania: cuando la educación es más que aprender 15 October 2012 Amman, 15 de octubre de 2012 - Durante ocho meses la voluntaria del Servicio Jesuita Refugiados, Grace Benton, trabajó en un equipo de voluntarios que tratan de ofrecer a los refugiados y sus hijos el apoyo que necesitan para rehacer su futuro. Los cursos iban cada vez mejor, pero pronto se dio cuenta que los resultados sobrepasaban los temas curriculares, concretándose en la construcción de la comunidad y hacer sentir más seguros a los refugiados. Leer más >>> |
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República Democrática del Congo: vidas en la cuerda floja en Kivu Norte 28 February 2012 Kivu Norte, 28 de febrero de 2012 – Emmanuel Mirimo Mateene tenía su casa y un pequeño pedazo de tierra cultivable. Vivía tranquilamente y le resultaba relativamente fácil poner comida en la mesa para su familia. Pero esto era antes de que la guerra estallara en la República Democrática del Congo (RDC). Leer más >>> |
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Ecuador: los invisibles refugiados colombianos, entre la discriminación y un futuro incierto 02 February 2012 Quito, 2 de febrero 2012 – Javier González* enseñaba a su hijo de nueve años, Miguel, a jugar a ajedrez cuando su madre, Rosa, interrumpió la partida para preguntar al niño qué había ocurrido en la escuela aquel día. Leer más >>> |
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Portugal: haciendo un esfuerzo adicional, un enfoque sobre la salud mental 01 November 2011 Bruselas, 1 de noviembre de 2011 – La adjunta para medios de comunicación del JRS Europa, Cathal Foley, habla con la asesora en salud mental, la Hna María José Rebelo, que explica la importancia de responder a las necesidades psicosociales de los migrantes forzosos. Leer más >>> |
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Ecuador: los efectos del conflicto colombiano afectan a las mujeres refugiadas 15 November 2010 Quito, 11 de noviembre de 2010 – Quedé horrorizado tras la visita de nuestra delegación a la población de Lago Agrio, Ecuador, horrorizado por las historias de desesperación de la población refugiada, horrorizado por la inseguridad de los residentes, por la falta de presencia del estado civil y la falta de presencia de la ONU, aparte del ACNUR, horrizado por los abusos sufridos por la gente a manos de los grupos armados colombianos, la policía local e incluso el ejército ecuatoriano. Leer más >>> |
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República Democrática del Congo: construir escuelas, llevar esperanza 03 September 2010 Es siempre un momento feliz acompañar a los refugiados cuando regresan tras años de vida en el exilio. Durante casi 10 años, el Jesuit Refugee Service ha atendido a los refugiados congoleños expulsados de sus hogares por la guerra en la República Democrática del Congo, en el campamento de Mwange, al norte de Zambia. Aunque el campamento no estaba lejos de la frontera con su país, el conflicto en la RDC hacía imposible el retorno. Leer más >>> |
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República Democrática del Congo: indicadores de calidad del acompañamiento del JRS 18 June 2010 Bujumbura, 18 de junio de 2010 – La 'calidad' y el 'impacto' se han convertido en palabras clave del discurso humanitario. Aunque es fácil debatir sobre estos temas, no es tan sencillo valorar la calidad de nuestra labor. Leer más >>> |
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Ginevra: la centralità della fede 24 May 2013 Ginevra, 20 maggio 2013 - Riconoscere che la fede gioca un ruolo cruciale nell'esperienza dei rifugiati è fondamentale per offrire protezione. Tutti erano d'accordo con questa verità durante il dialogo su fede e protezione organizzato a Ginevra dall'UNHCR nel dicembre 2012, che ha analizzato la centralità della fede per i rifugiati, i punti di forza e le sfide a cui vanno incontro le organizzazioni confessionali e le loro relazioni con gli altri attori umanitari. Tuttavia, l'UNHCR ha riconosciuto la necessità di aumentare la propria "conoscenza sulla fede" e ha annunciato azioni volte ad approfondire la propria comprensione di questi elementi. Segue >>> |
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Tutto ciò che non è donato è perso 10 January 2013 Chennai, 10 gennaio 2013 – Pierre Ceyrac SJ è morto lo scorso 30 maggio 2012 a Chennai all'età di 98 anni. Pierre ha prestato servizio con il JRS nei campi dei rifugiati cambogiani in Thailandia nei primi anni '80, proprio agli inizi della vita del JRS. Quando Pierre è morto, un ex operatore del JRS ha scritto: "finisce un'epoca di compassione senza confini". Segue >>> |
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Colombia: tra la vita e la morte 27 December 2012 Buenaventura, 27 dicembre 2012 – Primo giorno… 29 giugno 2008: una meravigliosa domenica pomeriggio. I bambini correvano da tutte le parti sul campetto di calcio e gli spazi comunitari del distretto di San Francisco a Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca. Uomini e donne si davano da fare preparando le attività per celebrare la vita come comunità, con musica, canti e risate. Era un'occasione degna di essere celebrata: la chiusura di un intenso processo di formazione e scambio di idee, di identificazione dei modi per vivere in un ambiente così avverso. Segue >>> |
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Giordania: quando l'istruzione non è solo studiare 15 October 2012 Amman, 15 ottobre 2012 – Per otto mesi Grace Benton, ex volontaria del Servizio dei Gesuiti per i Rifugiati, ha lavorato in una squadra di volontari cercando di offrire ai rifugiati e ai loro bambini il supporto necessario a costruirsi un futuro. I corsi andavano sempre meglio; ma, come Grace ha avuto modo di imparare, i risultati andavano ben al di là dell'apprendimento delle materie curricolari. Riguardavano piuttosto la costruzione della comunità e la possibilità di accrescere la sicurezza dei rifugiati. Segue >>> |
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Repubblica Democratica del Congo: vite in bilico nel Kivu Nord 28 February 2012 Kivu Nord, 28 febbraio 2012 – Emmanuel Mirimo Mateene possedeva una casa e un piccolo appezzamento di terra. La sua vita era tranquilla e riusciva a sfamare la propria famiglia senza troppa difficoltà. Questo però prima che nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo scoppiasse il conflitto. Segue >>> |
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Ecuador: rifugiati colombiani 02 February 2012 Quito, 2 febbraio 2011 – Javier González* stava insegnando a suo figlio Miguel, nove anni, a giocare a scacchi, quando la moglie Rosa ha interrotto il gioco per chiedere al bambino cos'era successo quella mattina a scuola. Segue >>> |
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Ecuador: gli effetti del conflitto in Colombia colpiscono le donne rifugiate 15 November 2010 Quito, 11 novembre 2010 – Il ricordo della visita della nostra delegazione alla città di confine di Lago Agrio, in Ecuador, mi perseguita; mi tormentano le storie di disperazione dei rifugiati, mi tormenta la mancanza di sicurezza per i residenti, mi tormenta l'assenza dello stato civile e l'assenza delle Nazioni Unite a parte l'UNHCR, mi tormentano gli abusi che la popolazione soffre da parte dei gruppi armati colombiani, della polizia locale e persino dall'esercito dell'Ecuador. Segue >>> |
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Repubblica Democratica del Congo: costruire scuole, portare speranza 03 September 2010 Washington DC, 9 settembre 2010 – È sempre un momento felice quando si accompagnano i rifugiati che ritornano a casa dopo aver vissuto per anni in esilio. Per quasi 10 anni il Servizio dei Gesuiti per i Rifugiati si è preso cura di rifugiati congolesi, messi in fuga dalla guerra, nel campo di Mwange in Zambia settentrionale. Anche se il campo non era lontano dal confine con il loro Paese, il perdurare del conflitto in RDC rendeva impossibile il ritorno. Segue >>> |
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Repubblica Democratica del Congo: indicatori di qualità dell'accompagnamento del JRS 18 June 2010 Bujumbura, 18 giugno 2010 – 'Qualità' e 'impatto' sono diventate parole chiave dell'azione umanitaria. Sebbene sia facile dibattere su questi argomenti, non è agevole valutare la qualità del nostro lavoro. È più facile valutare la quantità di servizi che offriamo: il numero di scuole costruite, i libri distribuiti, i bambini inseriti a scuola. Eppure quando parliamo di 'accompagnamento' – la prima parola della missione del JRS – valutarne la qualità è ben più arduo. Segue >>> |
