In recent years, JRS Indonesia, aside from meeting basic needs, has been encouraging refugees temporarily residing in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, to organize themselves for a positive contribution to the refugee and local community. The community empowerment project, that consists essentially in collaborative activities with refugees, includes providing basic and extracurricular education for refugee children, language lessons, and skills training such as basic computers skills, photo and videography, crafts creation, and sewing.

The waiting time for resettlement of a refugee and his or her family can be lengthy, leading to a state of limbo without a clear time limit. This often results in mental health issues among refugees. Simultaneously, JRS has identified that many refugees possess valuable skills to share not only within the refugee community but also with the local community. The JRS empowerment project helps refugees in enhancing their potential, sharing their capacities, and making positive contributions to the community.

At the end of each year, an evaluation of the services, including of the collaborative programs, is conducted through the Most Significant Change (MSC) process. Noteworthy outcomes from this process include testimonials like that of Maryam, a female refugee from Ethiopia, revealing the positive impact of her participation in the collaborative program on her life.

Due to instability in her home country, Maryam and her family sought refuge in Indonesia in 2015. With dreams of a better life, she never envisioned that her journey would lead her to a new country, Indonesia. She is residing in Cipayung, a hill village in the Bogor area. Leaving behind everything she knew, she struggled in a new world with different customs and language.

Maryam shared her difficult condition with our team before joining the Refugee Tailoring Project (RTP), a learning centre established collaboratively by a refugee community and JRS Indonesia in Cipayung. She felt lost and alone, having nothing to do, and the stress of her situation weighed heavily on her. Shy and lacking confidence, she felt trapped in a cycle of sleeping and eating all day, yearning for a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning that seemingly were out of reach.

Her situation gradually changed after joining the learning centre. Maryam stated, “Teaching English for children in the learning centre made my stress slowly disappear. I had the chance to talk to people, get to know new faces, and work as an administrator and teacher. The transport support from JRS, though modest, helps me, at least for occasional outings. If unused, I can contribute it to my mom for food.”

Expressing her positive impression of JRS Indonesia staff and students, Maryam said, “JRS officers always smiled, treating me as a human being. We became friends. Smiles give hope. I feel comfortable, and my stress is reduced because I’m busy. I am with people. I also meet JRS staff, attend discussions, and go to class, staying with the kids. We sit together like a family. I don’t feel like a foreigner; I’m so much more motivated than before.”

Joining the learning centre opened opportunities for Maryam to meet people, share her skills, and significantly transformed her life, providing newfound comfort and confidence. No longer feeling alone or overwhelmed, she was embraced as part of a family, finding strength and motivation in her work and community. Maryam’s refugee journey in Indonesia became a story of hope, resilience, and an example of the transformative power of support and opportunity. She knows that challenges still lay ahead but is ready to face them with the support of friends, family, and JRS.

*This article was originally published by the Curia Generalizia della Compagnia di Gesù (Jesuits Curia).