10 ways to walk

Over the past few years, we have held hundreds of Paths of Hospitality activities in Spain and around the world, bringing together thousands of people in dozens of cities. We have joined forces globally—from Almería to Brussels, from Colombia to Gran Canaria, from Loyola to Brazil. Here you can find some examples of previous activities.

An iniciative launched in 2016 at the Catholic University of Táchira together with JRS Venezuela and RAIF. It is a travelling artistic and social project that promotes solidarity, fraternity, and hospitality through visits to communities along the Colombian–Venezuelan border.

An initiative held within the framework of the World Social Forum on Migration in Mexico in 2018. It is a space for encounter and cultural celebration that allows for connection and mutual recognition with migrants, refugees, and displaced people from around the world, celebrating life.

On the occasion of the International Migrants Day in 2021, an app was created featuring the song “One More Step”, whose lyrics are built from the testimonies of forcibly displaced migrants and refugees. The song can only be heard while walking. This initiative seeks to walk in solidarity with people forced to migrate in different parts of the world and to raise awareness of the importance of taking action in order to move forward.

This is a journey across the Americas aimed at promoting a culture of welcome and encounter, making stops in communities that receive migrants and refugees. It is a travelling initiative of the Jesuit Migrant and Refugee Network, carried out in collaboration with the Jesuit Migrant and Refugee Services as well as other works and institutions linked to and partnering with the Society of Jesus.

Various initiatives centered around a table where people come together to share food, get to know one another, and exchange life experiences. Examples include ‘La Mesa de Todos’ by SJM Chile, the experience Bizilagunak (‘La familia de al lado’) in the Basque Country in Spain, and the “Art and Community Sancocho” initiative promoted by JRS LAC along the Colombian–Venezuelan border.

Another initiative that promotes a culture of inclusion and hospitality is charity fun runs, such as those held annually by Alboan and Entreculturas under the title ‘Run for a Cause’ in various locations across Spain, or the ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ run organized by IBERO University in Mexico.

Under the title ‘Minds Without Borders’ JRS Colombia organized this social innovation space where students, teachers, and migrants worked together for 34 consecutive hours to design proposals for intervention and support for the Venezuelan population in situations of forced human mobility in Bogotá, specifically at the city’s main bus terminal.

For several years, JRS Europa, has been promoting CHANGE an initiative aimed at educating young people about the positive contributions of refugees to society and encouraging them to take action for change in their schools and local communities. There are many examples, including an interschool european Kahoot, workshops such as All Different, All Equal”, (art-based), and sessions on environmental change and migrations, among others.

It is not easy to process emotions in everyday life when living through situations of high stress and anxiety. For this reason, since the outbreak of the war, JRS Ukraine, has welcomed a new member to its team: Jacqueline, a dog. She has become a great friend to the children in our shelters, helping them process their emotions, develop communication skills, and bring smiles, hugs, and hope.