Summary

When the pandemic hit Jesuit Refugee Service, like so many non-profits, had to adapt their fundraising strategies. SideXSide was hired to transform its in-person galas into a robust, online program. Each year the program includes short documentaries produced around the globe, appearances from celebrities (including President Biden), and presentations from JRS staff. 

Impact

Now in its third year, the virtual gala has helped to raise millions for JRS’s vital work around the globe.

SYNOPSIS ABOVE : Immaculee and her sister fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in search of safety. They found refuge in Malawi but life in a camp can be a challenge with little opportunity for economic growth. But thanks to JRS’s Digital Inclusion Programme, Immaculée is now a digital entrepreneur and is helping people in her community become economically independent. That is the power of JRS’s education programs.

SYNOPSIS BELOW : Talal Silah, a genocide survivor and a young Yazidi man living in Kurdistan, shares his journey of displacement and the lessons of personal experience. Today Talal is the JRS Protection and Education Director helping to advocate for his community to advance justice, education, and healing.

Additional Video