Liberation and Compassion

Dr Florina Xavier, Act for Peace's Return and Reintegration advisor in Sri Lanka, gives a reflection on resilience working with refugees.

Florina shares her experiences working with refugees and on her Act for Peace role. Working in partnership with Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation (OfERR) so that OfERR is able to break the cycle of trauma for Sri Lankan refugees in refugee camps in India. Empowering refugees to bring them back from India to Sri Lankan and preparing for their return. This work includes two aspects - helping refugees build their lives in collaboration with OfERR and negotiating a bilateral agreement with both Sri Lankan and Indian Governments on return.

Florina spoke about her experiences during the 25 August Sunday service at Pitt Street Uniting Church, led by Rev Dr Margaret Mayman. The service has been recorded and is available to watch on YouTube. 

We encourage you to listen to Forina's message, which you will find at the 7.20min mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ikH0joHiI 

NCCA thanks Florina for being such an inspiring spokesperson, and a valiant champion of this particular cause.

OfERR – Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation

OfERR’s Refugee Return and Reintegration program in partnership with Act for Peace is aimed at facilitating voluntary and considered repatriation of camp-based refugees by providing vital support systems to refugees who are ready to return home, enabling access to livelihoods, assistance and protection to those who have already returned to Sri Lanka, and influencing the Indian and Sri Lankan governments through diplomatic measures to strengthen resettlement policies to ease this transition process.

Visit https://oferr.org/