Three decades of solidarity: JRS BiH marks 30 Years of support for refugees

We marked the 30th anniversary of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Bosnia and Herzegovina (JRS BiH) with a solemn Mass and a programme held in Sarajevo. As an organization that has been working alongside refugees, migrants, and other vulnerable groups of foreigners for three decades, we strive through our work to bear witness to closeness, dignity, and solidarity. The anniversary gathering brought together representatives of the Church, international and state institutions, partner organizations, as well as our staff, volunteers, and friends who have been part of the development and work of JRS in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the years.

The programme began with a Holy Mass celebrated by the Provincial of the Croatian Province of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Sebastijan Šujević, followed by a formal academic session during which we presented the development of our work from the war years to the present day, as well as the current challenges of working with people on the move. A particular focus was placed on the meaning of our name, Jesuit Refugee Service, which connects our organization to the Society of Jesus and the legacy of Servant of God Fr. Pedro Arrupe, who recognized during major refugee crises the need for the Church to be concretely present among those forced to leave their homes. The word “Refugee” refers to the reality of displacement that shapes the contemporary world, while “Service” expresses our mission of service carried out by staff, volunteers, partners, and benefactors.

Our presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina dates back to the 1990s war period, when we provided assistance to refugees forced to leave their homes due to the conflict. After that period, our work was temporarily suspended, and we were reactivated in 2018, when Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the so-called Balkan route and faced an increased arrival of migrants in transit.

Today, we work through various programmes in reception centres and local communities. Our work includes psychosocial support, distribution of basic necessities, translation and cultural mediation services, and other activities aimed at improving the living conditions of people on the move. We place special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied children and young people, for whom we strive to ensure safety, support, and dignified living conditions.

As part of the programme titled “30 Years of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Bosnia and Herzegovina: From War to a Path of Hope,” the development of the organization from the war period to the present day was presented through photographs, testimonies, and an overview of activities. A particularly moving moment was the personal testimony of Ermin Jusufović, who shared his experience of a landmine accident in 1997, when he lost his leg and severely injured his arm. He emphasized that it was JRS that provided him with his first prosthesis in 1998, which significantly changed his life and restored his independence and hope for the future.

We also reflected on the beginnings of our work, closely linked to the wartime period, humanitarian assistance, and work with displaced persons. After the formal establishment of the Sarajevo office in 1996, we developed projects focused on community rebuilding, support for war victims, youth work, and assistance to socially vulnerable groups. The contributions of the late Jesuits Fr. Marijan Šef and Fr. Stjepan Kušan were also highlighted as important in the early years of JRS in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Today, our work includes psychosocial support, educational and health activities, legal information services, integration programmes, and work in day centres and reception centres in Sarajevo and Bihać. A special focus remains on unaccompanied children and young people, for whom we strive to provide safety, support, and opportunities for the future.

The programme also featured musical performances by members of the initiative “Musicians Without Borders” together with unaccompanied minors, sending a strong message of unity and acceptance through music. The film “House With a Heart” was also screened, portraying through personal stories the lives of unaccompanied children and young people, as well as the importance of safe spaces and support.

During the event, appreciation awards were presented to partners and institutions that have supported our work over the years, including Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina, Caritas Switzerland in BiH, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Bihać, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We concluded the 30th anniversary celebration with a gathering and dinner in an atmosphere of gratitude towards all staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and beneficiaries who have been part of our mission.

Our mission remains the same: to stand close to people in their most difficult moments and to build a society of encounter, dignity, and solidarity.