Around the world, women and girls are shaping their own futures and supporting those around them despite the challenges of displacement. This International Women’s Day, meet three who have been accompanied by JRS who are now helping serve others in India, Kenya, and Jordan.

India:

Zahra* is 13 years old and lives in a camp in Tamil Nadu. She was born a refugee after her parents fled Sri Lanka by boat during the civil war in the 1990s. Though she has never been there, Zahra feels deeply connected to the country her family left behind.

For the past four years, Zahra has studied at Jesuit Refugee Service’s Complementary Education Center (CEC).

“More than just academic support, the center has given me several opportunities to build life skills, confidence, and leadership,” she said.

Her favorite program is the Student Forum, which gathers on weekends at the CEC to collaborate on performances around themes like forgiveness, resilience, and hope.

“I was a shy and reserved child, too nervous to speak in public. But through the consistent encouragement of our CEC teachers, who pushed me to go on stage and coached me along the way, I’ve overcome my fears,” Zahra said. “They taught me how to speak confidently, perform well, and organize productions.

“I now feel proud to be seen as a role model among my peers. Now, I not only participate confidently but also guide others in these sessions. Thanks to the opportunities I received through this platform, I now believe in myself and my abilities. The Student Forum has given me a voice, and a space to grow, lead, and express who I am. I am also deeply grateful to my CEC teachers for their consistent encouragement and guidance throughout this journey.”

Kenya:

Nawal decided to pursue a degree in public health through the JRS Pathfinder Program after witnessing too many people in her refugee community fall ill or die due to lack of proper medical treatment.

Like many living in situations of protracted displacement, Nawal has spent most of her life in a refugee camp – in her case, Kakuma. After graduating high school, she left to study public health and advertising but eventually returned when the call to work for  justice became too strong.

“Too many young people here believe that success is only for the connected,” she said. “I want to change that.”

Nawal’s particular passion is making sure refugee children succeed in education. She began as a volunteer tutor but soon recognized a need for deeper mentorship. Many young people were dropping out of school, turning to crime, or otherwise giving up because they did not know how to access scholarships, jobs, or training programs.

In response, Nawal launched a mentorship campaign, a grassroots effort to educate and guide young refugees. She trained mentors, organized workshops, and built a team that now reaches schools across the camp and beyond. “To my fellow youths in refugee camps: Never give up. Life is hard now, but your dreams still matter. Keep learning, stay kind, and support each other. One day, things will get better. You are stronger than you think.”

Jordan:

Sana* is a forcibly displaced person from Yemen and a member of the JRS Committee in Jordan, which brings together refugees to advocate for inclusion and strengthen connections across cultures.

“I quickly felt accepted by JRS even though I knew little about the organization when I first joined the committee,” Sana said. “I never felt like a stranger, and this is what distinguishes JRS from other organizations… their flexibility, ease with cultural diversity, and their embrace of our differences, investing in us to appear in our most beautiful image.”

Sana has helped the committee work to highlight challenges facing refugees and bridge gaps in information between organizations and communities.

“On a personal level, I gained a lot and I am still benefiting and learning. All the trainings and activities were useful and had a positive impact on my leadership skills and confidence.”

“Thank you to JRS for the safe space, for giving me strength, empowerment, and trust.”

*Name changed