With My Own Two Hands
![Refugee self-reliance: After graduating from JRS business class, Jeannette was granted a small no-interest loan from JRS. She now runs her own business in Kampala, Uganda. (Denis Bosnic/JRS)](https://jrs.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/uga02_02_2016_denis-bosnic_Jeannette-e1597738328359-1200x600-c-default.jpg)
Developing refugee self-reliance
Refugees and other forcibly displaced people want nothing more than to be independent and self-reliant. JRS provides innovative livelihood programmes, so refugees can fulfill their talents and rebuild their future with their own two hands.
Refugees and other forcibly displaced people deserve their right to work, to share their talents, and to earn a living. In our work accompanying refugees around the world, we seek to provide livelihoods opportunities for them to fulfill their own potential and contribute to society.
For this reason, we launched Pathfinder, a livelihood programme for refugees, piloting in two countries: Kenya, and Malawi. By providing professional and vocational training, start-up support, career counselling and entrepreneurial guidance, we seek to create pathways to self-reliance for refugees so they can become agents of positive change and social transformation.
We believe that more durable and sustainable solutions can be achieved by enhancing refugee self-reliance and easing the pressure on host countries, both key priorities of the Global Compact on Refugees to which JRS is committed.
Campaign Stories
South Africa: a livelihoods programme builds hope for the future
27 September 2021
![Michelle, the JRS livelihoods massage teacher](https://jrs.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/michelle-south-africa-teacher-livelihoods-400x200-c-default.jpeg)
Kenya: The stories behind refugee-made crafts
15 February 2021
![Refugee-made crafts sold by Mikono](https://jrs.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/67974057_2199051306887132_7571984290095824896_o-e1613394184835-400x200-c-default.jpg)
Nigeria: Sarah, working again after displacement
25 November 2020
![After partecipating at the Farmers Field and Business School programme by JRS Nigeria, Sarah has improved her source of livelihood and can sustain her family.](https://jrs.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nigeria_nov2020_farmsproject_Sarah-e1606322037566-400x200-c-default.jpg)
Uganda: Ali’s inspiring story of self-improvement and agency
01 October 2020
![Ali is a Somali refugee who reached Kampala, Uganda to improve his life through education.](https://jrs.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Ali-and-Sr-Hellen_Kampala_livelihoods-e1601563210953-400x200-c-default.jpeg)