A fifth group home exclusively for girls and young women recently opened. Photo: CWS
Protecting Urban Refugees through Empowerment – PURE – efforts in Jakarta have grown again with a fifth group home exclusively for girls and young women recently opened. With support from the Australian Department for Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and in partnership with the UNHCR, the home opened with a festive ceremony on February 21st when the PURE team and country leadership were pleased to welcome colleagues from the Australian Embassy and UNHCR as well as representatives from the Indonesian government. The Asia Regional Coordinator was on hand for the event, too, which was emceed by 16-year-old Salma from Somalia and who was joined in opening event by four girls who performed a lively welcome dance. Remarks from colleagues from DIBP, UNHCR, CW, and the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Political and Security Affairs were followed by impromptu comments from two refugees. Lavish refreshments made by the girls as well as a tour of their new home followed, and now the home shelters and protects 21 girls and young women from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea – with others expected to join them in the weeks to come.