Primary resources

Activities

What makes you feel welcome? – a classroom activity for primary and lower secondary students for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023, which you can adapt to use at any time during the school year. This presentation briefly introduces the fact that many people are forced to move, and then focusses on the idea of welcome and hospitality. The class should focus on what makes them feel welcome and recognised by others, and how they would like to offer a welcome to others.

Secondary resources

Refugee voices

A message to young people in schools – without recourse to public funds, many of the refugee friends JRS UK work with are not able to attend college or university. In this letter, our refuge friend shares her hope to study, a message to young people in schools, and some insight into her experiences of seeking asylum in the UK. There are some suggested questions for reflection & possible next steps.

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Resource pack: A Catholic approach to refugees and migrants

This resource pack gives material for four lessons (which can be broken down further and covered over multiple classes) on a Catholic approach to refugees and migrants, intended to contribute to a spiral curriculum, drawing upon various learning points from the RED.

We have split up the content into four separate lessons, but teachers should adapt as appropriate for their class – some content can be covered over multiple lessons if suitable.

1. Introduction and definitions – this lesson is intended to be an introduction to the topic of refugees and migrants. It starts off by learning what students’ current understandings of who refugees and migrants are, before introducing some initial definitions and facts. A research activity is suggested – this can be done as part of the class itself or as homework. This pack includes a powerpoint, teachers notes, and a worksheet.
2. Migration in Bible stories – this lesson introduces some stories of forced displacement in the Old Testament, before moving on to introduce some modern day stories of displacement internationally. This pack includes a powerpoint and teachers notes. A worksheet is coming soon.
3. Coming soon: Accompaniment in Action – the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service
4. Coming soon: Working together for good – next steps in supporting refugees

Assembly resources

World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 assembly – a general assembly presentation introducing World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023. It briefly introduces refugees and Pope Francis’ call for communities to offer a welcome to those seeking safety. The presentation focuses on what schools can do to raise awareness and help refugees and asylum seekers. This powerpoint can be adapted for use at any time during the school year.

Take action

Coming soon: Day of Action Pack

Want to support JRS UK?

Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Hold a fundraiser for JRS UK – a bake sale? a charity run? a raffle?;
• Write letters to people held in immigration detention;
• Organise a donation of essential items such as toiletries, food, and clothing;
• Learn more and raise awareness at school – prepare an assembly for other year groups? create a display board?;
• Invite JRS UK to come and speak!

For more information, please get in contact with Victoria, Senior Communications and Engagement Officer, at victoria.firth@jrs.net.

Young Uruguayan visitors at JRS UK

13 February 2023 – Colegio Seminario visits JRS UK

Read more

A Christmas Card can say so much when you’re in Detention

12 December 2022 – St Ignatius College in Enfield, supporting Refugees in Detention

Read more

Why write?

For many of us, Christmas is a time spent celebrating with family and friends. For those accompanied by JRS UK, however, Christmas and New Year can be a difficult time as it is a reminder of the people and communities that they are separated from.

By writing a Christmas card and a message of solidarity, you can help provide a small bit of comfort, connection and encouragement over the holidays.

Sending in your cards…

Please send all Christmas cards to us at JRS Christmas Cards 2023, JRS UK, The Hurtado Jesuit Centre, 2 Chandler St, London E1W 2QT by Friday 8th December 2023

Resources to promote the Christmas Card appeal at your school

Double sided leaflet – This can be printed double sided. On one side, we share the importance of writing a Christmas card, and on the other are our top-tips. There is a space for you to write who cards should be handed in to and by what date. Hand these out at school/send home in your school newsletter!

Landscape poster (A3) – This poster shares a brief bit of information about what immigration detention is. There is a space for you to write who cards should be handed in to. After doing an appeal at an assembly or in class, stick this up on a notice board as a reminder!

Walk with us this Advent

Our Advent Calendar for schools suggests small acts everyone can do each day to walk alongside the refugee friends that JRS UK serves. These small acts involving a mixture of giving, taking personal action, learning, and praying.

Advent Calendar 2023

Feel free to adapt or mix and match these actions as suits you and your school. There are links directing you to further resources/readings/materials.

Download the Advent Calendar for your school/class noticeboard…

Download a copy of the Advent Calendar to follow along with your class. It shows the ideas for action at a glance.

One page version

Two page version – you can print the calendar off on two landscape pages and stick them together. Useful if you want to look at the calendar in detail but don’t have large print sizes available to you!