Amidst the uncertainty, education is an opportunity for refugees to thrive

Sep 9, 2023

Latest news

Child unlawfully detained by Malta gets €5,000 compensation

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JRS issues call for Researcher

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Run for JRS at the LifeStar Malta Marathon 2026

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Call for maternity leave cover: advocacy and administration

JRS Malta is seeking to recruit a Maternity Leave Cover – Advocacy & Administration to work with forced migrants and asylum seekers. The selected candidate will be offered a 6-month definite term full-time contract. As this post is a maternity leave cover, renewal...

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JRS is seeking to recruit a Lawyer

JRS Malta is seeking to recruit a LAWYER, to work with asylum seekers and immigrants in Malta. The post is a full-time post, however applications from individuals wishing to work part-time or reduced hours will also be considered. Individuals who cannot work at least...

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The last couple of years have seen a shift in the climate surrounding refugees and asylum seekers, locally and at a European level. At first glance, one can only describe the situation as bleak. This is due to a number of factors – firstly because it is becoming increasingly hard for asylum seekers to reach places of safety due to restrictions on search and rescue operations, Secondly, it’s because those that have found themselves in Malta often wait years for a final decision on their asylum case, as the statistics show, the rates of asylum application rejections are at an all-time high.

However, while these facts continue to be true, at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) we witness the hope that educational opportunities can bring in these situations. These efforts by JRS are made more possible thanks to the support by entities such as Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and others.

Recently, Agenzija Żgħażagħ have provided support to JRS Malta through the INVEST Operational Grant. These grants allow the necessary support for proper education and mentoring. Whatever course one does, an extra element of support goes a long way for JRS to keep assisting asylum seekers in Malta.

At our offices in Sarria, JRS Malta holds weekly classes on English language and basic literacy. These classes are attended by a number of asylum seekers who are willing to learn and further improve their education.

Education is one of the fields in which JRS Malta staff provides assistance to asylum seekers, particularly in their journey to access education at every level.

As most are aware, the application process for many educational institutions can be quite tedious; add to this the fact that asylum seekers do not have e-IDs, nor do they have identification documents that are recognisable by most people, making accessibility to education even more difficult.

In Malta, much of an asylum seeker’s life is shrouded in uncertainty. They often feel stuck, unable to move forward until a decision has been made on their case or, having received a negative decision, they feel like they have wasted years of their life waiting for something that is no longer possible. It is within these seemingly hopeless situations that opportunities like the courses offered at post-secondary education institutions become crucial.

A course becomes more than just a qualification – it turns into a skill that they can carry with them for years to come and that can never be taken from them no matter what document they hold. It also becomes an opportunity to learn with and from other students, a foundation stone for integration.

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As 2025 draws to a close, we want to thank you for continuing to walk this journey with us, a journey alongside countless refugees and displaced families who long for safety, peace, and a place to...

read more