Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) East Africa is a humanitarian and educational organization with a mission to Accompany, Serve, and Defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced persons across the Eastern Africa region. Headquartered in Nairobi, JRS supports refugees in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania through education, emergency relief, livelihoods, and psychosocial programs. In Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya—home to hundreds of thousands displaced by war, famine, and persecution—JRS manages and supports secondary education centers, giving young people the opportunity to pursue formal education in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
JRS began operations in Africa in the early 1980s, responding to crises in Ethiopia, and expanded rapidly in the 1990s due to conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, JRS continues to be a lifeline for displaced communities, providing hope and dignity through education.
Angaza Center Partnership
Through its partnership with the Angaza Center, JRS East Africa is bringing essential digital literacy to Kakuma’s young girls and boys. This collaboration provides access to devices, teacher training, STEM mentorship (with a focus on empowering girls), and technology integration into classroom learning. By introducing ICT tools and fostering problem-solving skills, the program aims to prepare refugee students for a future where digital skills are essential to education, livelihoods, and community leadership. Together, JRS and Angaza Center are proving that even in remote refugee settings, technology can open doors to opportunity, equity, and hope.
