This year, 2011, Jesuit College Preparatory, once again demonstrating its unique commitment to human rights, gained a club dedicated to the rights of displaced persons. With the creation of the American/African Outreach Society, our school also gained distinction, becoming the first Jesuit school with an official chapter of the worldwide Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS).
Jesuit Refugee Services is a Jesuit organization devoted to serving refugee communities worldwide and advocating for their rights. In its mission statement, Jesuit Refugee Services pledges to serve and defend “people driven from their homes by conflict, natural disaster, economic injustice, or violation of their human rights.” JRS coordinates much of its service through local charity organizations, including the Catholic Charities of Dallas.
The organization also aims to advocacy for refugee rights. JRS strives for this goal primarily by designating local affiliates, or “action teams,” to form a grassroots movement in support of humane refugee treatment. Our school became the first Jesuit school with a JRS/USA Action Team this year when sophomores Justin Rotich and Brocke Stepteau founded the American/African Outreach Society.
“Last year, Mr. [Quang] Tran, who was one of the Jesuits on campus, contacted Jesuit Refugee Services about founding a chapter,” says director of community service Mr. Rich Perry. “Two freshmen at the time, Justin Rotich and Brocke Stepteau, wanted to have a leadership opportunity. Now they’re the chairmen of the AAOS, the first high school [JRS] chapter in America.”
Rotich and Stepteau were recently featured in a Jesuit Refugee Services/USA news release on the organization’s web site. In it, both students comment on their calling to serve refugees: “Many of us are privileged during the summer with book clubs, select sports, summer vacations or just spending time with friends. Refugees are not as fortunate in receiving the same opportunities; they are adjusting to their new lives in a new country, learning a new language, and dealing with cultural shocks.”
The Jesuit Refugee Services asks each local chapter to focus on one particular part of the world’s refugee population. Jesuit decided to zero in on serving the African, and in particular Kenyan, refugee communities, and the AAOS was formed. “It is called the American/African Outreach Society,” adds Perry, “because we as Americans are reaching out to refugees living in Africa and refugees coming in to the United States.”
While the AAOS aims to help mainly on an international level, helping internally displaced persons in Africa, the organization also takes on a local component. Over the summer, volunteers with the AAOS helped set up apartments and shopped for groceries for arriving refugee families. Students also gave of their Saturdays to help the reading program at the Shiloh Apartment Complex, where many in Dallas’ refugee community live.
The AAOS will be offering service opportunities throughout the year. Next month, on November 5, Jesuit will be hosting a soccer tournament for children living at the Shiloh Apartment Complex. “The goal of the day,” says Perry, “is to invite the children from Shiloh…to Jesuit for a fun-filled day and a soccer competition.” Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the JRS program in Kenya. Contact Justin Rotich ’14 or Brocke Stepteau ’14 for more information.
Check out the feature article on the Jesuit Refugee Service site by clicking here.
