Through complementary education, teacher trainings, family enrichment sessions, peace building workshops, and environmental conservation efforts, JRS India accompanies Sri Lankan Tamil refugees as they rebuild their lives. The following is a collection of several, inspiring testimonies from members of this refugee community:

JRS Teacher Training Program Empowers Communities from Within: Ms. Medona’s Testimony

Miss Nanthini’s Love of Libraries

I am the daughter of two Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who came to India in 2008, during the height of the civil war. I’m in ninth grade, and my younger sister is in seventh. I live with my parents and sister in a Rehabilitation Camp. We both regularly attend the JRS Complementary Education Center (CEC). One of the most impactful parts of the program for me has been the Library Corner. Before it opened in October 2022, I had only ever read my school textbooks—nothing more. But thanks to the encouragement of my JRS teachers, I’ve grown to love reading. Now it’s my favorite hobby. My vocabulary, comprehension, and general knowledge have all improved, and my academic performance has too. My teachers ask me to summarize what I read, which has strengthened my speaking and memory skills. I also enjoy discussing books with friends, which has helped me connect with others and stay mentally active. I especially love reading biographies of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. I truly believe what Lauren Ward said: “Libraries always remind me that there are good things in this world.”

Creative Writing Courses Inspire Art for Change: Miss Deepa Priya’s Testimony

I was born 19 years ago in Thappathi Rehabilitation Camp. I’m currently pursuing a diploma in Medical Lab Technology. While my immediate goal is to complete my studies and find work as a lab technician, I’ve long held a deeper dream: to become a writer and engage in social activism. Growing up, I witnessed the struggles and vulnerabilities of other refugees in my community, and I came to believe that words can be more powerful than violence in bringing about change. Even in high school, I wrote stories and articles, some of which were published in a monthly magazine. One of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve had was attending a JRS training in creative writing. Led by experienced writers, the sessions helped me develop skills in haiku, parables, and dialogue writing. That training gave me the confidence to believe I can use my words to inspire change.

Power of Peace Building: Adithya’s Story

In November 2024, I joined an Act-for-Peace session organized by JRS in my refugee community, along with over a hundred other young refugees. During the session, we took part in Play-for-Peace activities that helped us manage stress and learn nonviolent ways to resolve conflict. Before this experience, I was often short-tempered and quick to blame others. But something shifted in me during the session. The exercises helped me relax, and the reflection that followed made me look inward. I came to see that real change starts with myself. I learned that choosing a conciliatory path is far more powerful than holding on to anger. I now believe deeply in building a culture of peace.

How Tailoring Talent Connected Mrs. Jeyamalar with Her Host Community

I was just nine years old when my parents and I fled the civil war in Sri Lanka and came to India seeking protection in 1990. Now, I live with my husband and three children at the Rehabilitation Camp in Uchapatti. My children attend local schools, and my husband finds work painting homes in the host community. I help support our family as a home-based tailor. For years, I kept to myself, hesitant to engage with the host community. I assumed they would look down on me because I was a refugee. But that changed after I joined the Peace Artisans Campaign, a program led by JRS. It opened my eyes to the importance of building positive relationships—not just within my own community but also with our neighbors. I realized I had been holding on to my own fears and biases. Knowing that local integration is our most realistic path forward, I felt called to take a step toward connection, even if the idea was daunting. As a Catholic, I began attending Mass at the nearby parish church. I brought along a few dresses I had sewn and gave them to the parish priest to share with families in need. The following Sunday, I was overwhelmed when five young girls approached me wearing the dresses I had made. They thanked me and even told me their neighbors wanted to buy similar ones. That moment changed everything. Now, I’m building friendships and growing my small business among the host community. Most importantly, I’ve let go of my old fears and feel hopeful about our future here.

Mrs. Palaniammal Explains How Social Protection Awareness Sessions Help Refine Curriculum to Meet Refugee Students Where They Are

I’m an Indian citizen living in Irumboothipatti in Karur district and working as a kindergarten teacher at a local school where 17 of our 220 students are refugees. On November 25, 2024, I joined nine of my fellow teachers in a Social Protection Awareness Session led by a staff member from Jesuit Refugee Service. The session included Play for Peace games that filled us with joy and helped us reflect on values like inclusion, cooperation, empathy, and acceptance. The activities helped us relax, focus, and experience a deep sense of peace. The JRS staff member also spoke about the dangers of prejudice and stereotypes and how they can block our ability to build right relationships and foster peace. That session had a lasting impact on me. The very next day, I introduced the games in my classroom, and my students learned important values through play. I also became aware of my own unconscious biases, especially toward refugee children. Since then, I’ve adopted a more compassionate, welcoming approach and I’ve seen real friendships and trust grow in return.

JRS Community Programs Establish Environmental Stewardship Efforts: Mrs. Brindha’s Testimony

I live with my husband and two sons at the Rehabilitation Camp in Vaniyar Dam, in Krishnagiri district. My boys, who are in grades seven and nine, regularly attend activities at the CEC. I support my family by working as a home-based tailor, and I always make time to join JRS programs when I’m invited. One program I attended, with 45 others, made a deep impression on me. It opened my eyes to the environmental damage caused by plastic and the urgent need to replace it with biodegradable, eco-friendly alternatives. I realized how the unchecked use of plastic had even made our own community feel unlivable. Thanks to the JRS program, I’ve come to see the earth and everything in it as part of one extended family, deserving of care and protection. As a step toward that vision, I’ve removed plastics from my home and started using more sustainable materials. I also purchased saplings and donated them to be planted around the CEC and our local church, since there’s little space to grow plants near my house. I now hold a strong belief: completely rejecting plastic is the only true way to care for our environment and honor those who will inherit it.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Workshops Strengthen JRS Staff Capacity: Miss Shobana’s Testimony

I’m 26 years old and live with my parents and siblings at the Rehabilitation Camp in Vazhavanthankottai, in Trichy. Since February 2023, I have been serving as the JRS Coordinator for three districts. Recently, I attended a three-day workshop on Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) with 36 other JRS staff members. The workshop was led by experts from JRS Global and Northeast India and helped me deepen my understanding of the many dimensions of emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, biological, and physical safety. I learned about the MHPSS pyramid from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, the principles of Psychological First Aid (prepare, look, listen, and link), and tools for assessing needs. These principles continue to guide my work with refugees in the communities we serve. The skills I gained were especially helpful when conducting a needs assessment in a community in Karur district. Overall, the workshop greatly enhanced my understanding of how psychosocial support works and has strengthened my ability to serve those in need.