Protecting refugees and other people who have been forced to flee their homes is a mission that our JRS colleagues carry out every day around the world.

For us, protection means ensuring that every refugee is treated with dignity, has their rights respected, and receives the support needed to rebuild their life and feel at home in a new community.

Protection takes many forms across our projects: education, mental health and psychosocial support, economic inclusion, reconciliation initiatives, pastoral care. This World Humanitarian Day, some of our colleagues share reflections on the different ways in which protection is lived out through their work of accompanying, serving, and advocating for refugees as they rebuild their lives.

Théophile: Chad

Theophile Oniandon Atcha serves as Project Director and Head of the JRS office in Bagasola, in the Lake Province of Chad. “What motivated me to work in the humanitarian sector is, above all, the desire to improve the well-being of vulnerable people,” he said. Over the years, witnessing the hardships faced by refugees and the communities we serve has strengthened his determination to stand alongside them, offering support and hope during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

“For me, protection is the set of actions that aim to ensure people’s safety, dignity, well-being, and personal development. Protection can change the course of a person’s life. Being present, listening, advocating, and supporting someone at the right moment can help them regain confidence and move forward despite the obstacles they face. Every act of protection sends a powerful message: that a brighter tomorrow is possible.”

Mia: Indonesia

Fransisca Dwi Indah Asmiarsi, known to many as Mia, first joined JRS Indonesia in 2012 and, after a brief break, returned in 2018. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of roles within the organisation, leading to her current position as Interim Country Director of JRS Indonesia.

Years of accompanying refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs) have profoundly shaped her life. “What has kept me committed are the people I have met and the privilege of accompanying refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs,” she says. This experience has taught her that “humanitarian work is not only about providing services, but also about affirming human dignity. I have come to realise that a simple presence, a listening ear, or a small act of kindness can remind someone that they are not forgotten.”

For Mia, protection means “creating spaces where every person feels safe, respected, and heard. It is also about safeguarding people’s physical safety, dignity, rights, mental well-being, and hope.”

Doreen: Uganda

Doreen Kyampeire serves as Child, Youth and Family Counsellor and Safeguarding Focal Person with JRS Uganda. Her work focuses on protecting refugee children and supporting refugee families, ensuring they have access to safety and psychosocial support despite the many challenges of displacement.

What motivates her most is the resilience she witnesses every day. “Even after experiencing unimaginable hardships, many people continue to hope for a better future with a smile on their faces. Being able to journey with them and help children reclaim their dreams gives meaning to my work,” she shares.

For Doreen, protection extends far beyond responding to emergencies. “It means standing beside people when they feel invisible, listening without judgement, and ensuring they can access the support they need. At JRS, protection is expressed through accompaniment. We go beyond providing services to build relationships, advocate for those who are most vulnerable, and remind them that they matter and that they are not alone.”

Juanita: JRS Latin America and the Caribbean

Juanita Bedoya Palacio is the Regional Education Coordinator for JRS Latin America and the Caribbean.

One experience, in particular, has stayed with her throughout her years of humanitarian work. While accompanying families on the move, she met refugees who had been forced to walk from Venezuela to Colombia, often for weeks, with their children exposed to numerous risks along the way.

“I began playing with a seven-year-old boy using small fruits from a tree to practise simple maths. That moment has stayed in my heart and showed me how creating learning opportunities and providing education in emergencies can be a powerful act of protection, care, and dignity.”

Juanita explains what protection means to her in these words: “As humanitarian workers, protection comes to life through every human encounter, every responsible decision, and every principled approach that places people’s dignity first. By balancing humanity with technical rigor, we can create safer, more protective spaces where refugees can rebuild their lives with dignity.”

This story originally appeard on the JRS International Office website.