Cambodia

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) started then mission in Cambodia 1981 at the border Thailand and Cambodia. The camps held 600,000 Cambodians who had fled from the civil war that ensued after the Vietnamese invasion and the subsequent collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime. Care for the disabled and education were the first priorities of the pioneers of the mission in the camps.

In 1990, JRS entered into an agreement with the Cambodian government allowing the pioneering group of Br Noel Oliver SJ, Sr Denise Coghlan RSM, Sr. Marie Jeanne Ath CDP and Fr Jub Phoktavi SJ (then a lay volunteer) to enter Cambodia and begin operations in Cambodia. In 2024, Fr. Minh Do Nguyen Joseph, S.J step in as the new project director. Currently, JRS mission focuses on serving: asylum seeker, refugees and stateless people in Cambodia

Our work in Cambodia

Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia supports refugees and displaced communities through education, emergency aid, advocacy, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and livelihood programs. We provide scholarships and vocational training to ensure access to education, while also intervening in school and documentation challenges. Our emergency aid includes access to healthcare, food, shelter, and support for trafficking survivors. JRS advocates for refugee rights with immigration authorities and law enforcement, ensuring access to essential services. Through MHPSS, we offer emotional support, counseling, and community integration. Our livelihood initiatives help refugees secure employment, protect against discrimination, and promote environmental sustainability. Rooted in accompaniment and justice, JRS empowers refugees with dignity and hope.

Advocacy