What makes you feel safe?: Voices from across our community
20 June 2026
Imagine fleeing your home to keep your family safe only to find the border closed, exclusion, and the denial of the most basic rights. This is the reality faced by millions of refugees around the world.
In this context, defending their right to protection and safety has never been more urgent. Protection is about belonging, dignity and opportunities to rebuild. It becomes real only when people stand together: a door opened, a voice raised, a chance given.
We asked people across JRS projects around the world what makes them feel safe.
Here is what some of them told us:
What makes students from Kakuma refugee camp feel safe?
Kakuma refugee camp is located in a remote and arid area where access to food, water, education, and income opportunities is scarce. In such a context, for the students of Somali Bantu Secondary School in Kakuma, safety is not just about not being harmed. In their own words, it also means feeling confident in one’s own body, having supportive friends and family, and going to school.
What makes Pastora feel safe?
Pastora is a community leader in Soacha, Colombia. For her, feeling safe means being certain that the place she lives in offers protection rather than posing a threat. For this reason, she chooses to step forward and play an active role in making her community a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
What makes Pie-Pacifique feel safe?
Pie-Pacifique is a member of the JRS Administrative Council and lives in South Africa. For him, feeling safe means having access to opportunities and living in an environment that allows people to work, study, and operate legally and freely.
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