JRS Europe Welcomes Visitors from Easterner Africa and UK to Brussels Regional Office

The JRS Europe regional office in Brussels was delighted to receive several important visitors in June, strengthening connections within the global Jesuit Refugee Service network and fostering collaboration across different regions.

East Africa Regional Coordinator Visits European Institutions

On June 19th, JRS Europe welcomed Obed Ombuna, JRS Eastern Africa Regional Education Coordinator, and Elena Sierra Cevenini, Entreculturas Project Officer based in Kenya. Both visitors participated in several meetings at European institutions alongside JRS Europe colleague Christoph Klotz, focusing on education and refugee support initiatives that bridge the work between Africa and Europe.

The Eastern Africa Regional Education Coordinator role is crucial within JRS’s structure, providing technical expertise and advice to education and livelihood programmes across Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania-Burundi. This position particularly emphasizes the inclusion of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, while ensuring child protection and psychosocial support are mainstreamed into all education programmes.

During their visit, the Brussels regional office hosted the guests for coffee, joined by Pablo Funes and Asun Taboada from the Xavier Network-Entreculturas, who accompanied us throughout the week.

New JRS UK Director Strengthens Regional Ties

The Brussels office also received David Ryall, the newly appointed Director of JRS UK, who visited on June 24th and 25th. Ryall, who officially took up his position at the start of May 2025, brought considerable expertise from his previous role as founding Director of the Santa Marta Group, a global anti-slavery initiative.

Prior to his appointment at JRS UK, Ryall led international affairs and migration work for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, playing central roles in humanitarian projects across Gaza, the West Bank, Northern Iraq, and anti-trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and West Africa. His experience also includes promoting community sponsorship of refugees in Catholic parishes and challenging immigration detention.

During his Brussels visit, Ryall participated in JRS Europe’s weekly team meeting and conducted interviews with all area coordinators from the regional office. His visit was particularly meaningful as it reinforced bonds within the shared mission of the global JRS network.

Strengthening the JRS Network Through Hospitality

These gatherings in Brussels demonstrate how JRS Europe serves as a vital hub for coordination, bringing together expertise from different regions to address the complex challenges facing forcibly displaced people across continents. The joy expressed in welcoming these visitors reflects the organization’s commitment to hospitality and the strength found in working together toward their common mission.