As the Advent season unfolds a time of expectation, hope, and quiet preparation the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) finds itself at the heart of stories that echo the very meaning of this liturgical moment.

Across East Africa, moments of achievement, inclusion, resilience, and advocacy have illuminated the past weeks, forming a tapestry of hope powered by refugees, staff, and partners.

In Nairobi, joy filled the air on December 4th as Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) students graduated after years of dedication and resilience. These learners, many of whom have navigated displacement and hardship, crossed the stage bearing more than certificates each carried a testament of perseverance, late-night study sessions, and dreams stubborn enough to survive adversity. “Here’s to new beginnings, bold goals, and bright futures,” JRS celebrated, marking a milestone not only for the graduates but for the communities they represent.

Just days earlier, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities brought another powerful reminder of inclusion. In Kabiria, a slum area in Nairobi celebrations centred on the global theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.” Refugees, host communities, and partners stood together to call for a world where every voice is heard and every barrier falls.

JRS at Kakuma Refugee Camp joined other partners to advocate for persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, students from Pedro Special School delivered presentations so compelling they moved participants to renewed commitment. Their message was clear: genuine progress cannot leave anyone behind.

The December calendar has been full. On the 2nd, Kakuma’s second cohort of SNHU graduates was honoured for their courage and determination, a quiet triumph for a community often defined by struggle. A day earlier, JRS Burundi-Tanzania marked the ongoing 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, reaffirming its unwavering stance alongside survivors. “No to violence, yes to equality,” JRS declared, echoing the plea for dignity and safety across refugee and host communities.

Other milestones told stories of transformation on the ground. In Kakuma, parents in the Inclusive Education programme began forming Community-Based Organizations an essential step toward sustainable livelihoods and stronger psychosocial support for families. And in Dar es Salaam, JRS received an unprecedented honour during the 30th Technical Working Group of the Tripartite Commission on the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees recognition of persistent accompaniment through one of Africa’s most protracted refugee situations.

JRS is empowering parents with skills to form Community-Based Organizations.

In Kakuma and Kalobeyei, local communities united to tackle digital violence against women and girls. And thanks to initiatives like SHE FOR SHE PADS, girls now have access to reusable sanitary towels lasting three years gifts of dignity that translate into better health, confidence, and school attendance.

Girls at Kakuma Refugee Camp benefit from free sanitary pads.

Beyond the headlines, individual stories of transformation continue to inspire. JRS, teacher Recho Kibet, recently named one of Kenya’s national heroes, has turned the once barren grounds of Blue State Secondary School into a green sanctuary, an outdoor classroom of resilience and renewal. And Nawal, a 21-year-old Sudanese refugee and academic coach, is mentoring young people to believe in their future, proving that hope, when shared, multiplies. Across these diverse events, one theme is unmistakable: in places where displacement could easily write narratives of despair, communities are writing stories of resilience.

Recho, JRS teacher - A teacher is championing environmental sustainability in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya.

An Advent Call to Prayer

The 2025 JRS Advent booklet echoes the spirit behind these stories. In a world where refugees often encounter indifference, isolation, and rejection, this season offers a deeper invitation: to make room in our hearts and communities for those who long for welcome.

As candles are lit each week, JRS encourages the faithful to pray, reflect, and take small actions of solidarity gestures that echo the way Christ Himself entered the world: as a child without a home, received by strangers, carrying hope into a weary world.

This Advent, the stories emerging from Kakuma, Nairobi, Burundi, and Tanzania become more than updates. They are reminders that God continues to work through human hands in classrooms and refugee camps, in community celebrations, in acts of courage and quiet persistence.

May this season prepare us not only for Christmas, but to recognise, welcome, and cherish every person, each a bearer of unique value, each a light in the waiting darkness.

DOWNLOAD the JRS Advent Prayer for Refugees

JRS Advent Prayer for Refugees