The last week of June, the Jesuit universities gathered for the biannual Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN) conference, which focused on the theme "Principles in Crisis: Refugees and Responsibility." The conference covered issues related to humanitarianism, political consequences, religious organizations, and also university action. Tuesday morning started with a simulation organized by Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) called “Walk A Mile in My Shoes” which aimed to illustrate the process refugees face on their journey. Although the simulation at the conference was a brief version of previous iterations, it provided a baseline for understanding and tools to carry this information back to campus. When governments stop short and agencies are politically tied, independent efforts become increasingly more vital.
The conference keynote speakers, panelists, and breakout sessions constantly emphasized and reemphasized finding what was needed from a university to a degree level. With governments shutting their doors and cutting off funding, the burden of service falls to private organizations and individuals.
The Georgetown delegation held a meeting to see how we could bring that information back to campus. At Georgetown, we facilitate an ideal environment for service, dialogue, and social justice work; however, the refugee issue is a bit untapped. With some brainstorming and a conversation with Guilia from Jesuit Refugee Service, the simulation is the first of many steps to bringing the cause back to campus.
Many agencies like JRS emphasized how they are trying to fill the holes in humanitarian aid that often can get ignored. For example, JRS sets up education centers at various camps to create a sense of normalcy for displaced children.
The simulation starts with an individual refugee and then walks through the different obstacles of health, provisions, education, and then optional adaptations for resettlement or integration. The simulation can become interactive with a build-your-own-shelter stations or cards with different obstacles in healthcare, food, or security. Students leave with a better idea of how difficult refugee life really is and the areas that require more assistance. JRS has created a guide with supplementary materials to effectively recreate this simulation at universities and other institutions.
I was so inspired when I saw students from Scranton and Fairfield organize simulations that brought over 80 students to engage with the refugee journey. I was even more motivated when speakers from Georgetown University’s Professor David Hollenbach, S.J., to Dr. Mark Potter assured us that we could take actions as simple as working on our language skills, providing spotlight attention, and educating others to be small parts towards the solution. At a university level, we can do our small share through education and access. Bringing teaching tools like the simulation or even a letter writing campaign through JRS’s templates are short-term steps towards longer lasting impacts.
As a university community, it is important to engage and interact with these issues of displacement because they are a lot closer than we realize. I came away with a sense of responsibility and need to do my part no matter how small that may be. Georgetown has the resources and the motivation to engage, so we can use learning tools to facilitate that process. The conference did not shy away from placing the focus and responsibility on us to innovate and understand the magnitude and nuances of this global crisis.
