At the border between Mozambique and South Africa—where instability, displacement, and silence shape daily life—the João Batista Scalabrini Centre (JBS) stands for something different: dignity, resilience, and concrete hope.
Founded in 1994 by the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters in Ressano Garcia, JBS began as an orphanage for children who had survived Mozambique’s brutal civil war. Over the decades, it has adapted to meet the region’s evolving crises. In the 1990s, the centre welcomed forcibly repatriated migrants from South Africa—many without documents, homes, or support. Today, the centre’s mission reflects a harsher reality: caring for unaccompanied minors, vulnerable girls, and victims of trafficking, many of whom have escaped the jihadist violence devastating Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique.
Built for 50 guests, the centre now shelters over 120. It’s not just a roof and a meal—it’s a launchpad for recovery. Through the #Hope&Help project, supported by the Scalabrinian Foundation and Caritas Sant’Antonio, JBS has become a model for integrated reception. The approach is simple and effective: immediate aid, education, and social protection, all in one place.
The #Hope&Help project, launched in 2025, has been a turning point. In preparation for the academic year, the centre underwent key upgrades: infrastructure repairs, classroom improvements, and expanded educational programs. Forty children between 8 and 12 now take part in weekly workshops designed to fight illiteracy and give them alternatives to exploitation and trafficking. Each course taught and every repaired facility is more than a service—it’s a quiet act of defiance against neglect.
The centre also helps undocumented individuals reclaim their identities. Legal support and humanitarian aid go hand in hand. In a region where over 800,000 people have been displaced since 2017, these efforts are life-changing.
JBS’s strength lies in its local roots and global support. Volunteers from Ressano Garcia play a vital role, turning reception into community solidarity. Backed by international partnerships but run with local autonomy, the centre keeps its doors open and its programs alive, even with limited resources.
In a world where migration crises are often reduced to headlines or ignored entirely, the João Batista Scalabrini Centre reminds us: human dignity is not up for debate. It’s built day by day, with every meal served, every document processed, every lamp switched on.
Christopher Montenegro
Communication Officer, Scalabrinian Foundation
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