Jesuit Urumuri Centre (JUC) is a social initiative of the Jesuit fathers (Compagnie de Jésus au Rwanda), a religious organization operating in Rwanda. The Jesuits were officially recognized by the Government of Rwanda in 1969 by a Ministerial Order No. 16/01 of 17/02/1969 published in the Official Journal of 1/03/1969. They got a New Legal Personality No. 73/08.11 from the Rwanda Governance Board and their new statutes were published in the Official Gazette, No. Special of 31/12/ 2013.
JUC blends wisdoms from Ignatian spirituality and Catholic Social Thought to provide faith-inspired analysis of social challenges that affect people in Rwanda. Since 1992, the work of JUC has revolved around promotion of dialogue through platforms such as conferences and documentation materials covering issues of national interest like interreligious dialogue, reconciliation and gacaca jurisdictions. At times, JUC has also run programs on value-education for children and young adults.
The Jesuit fathers in the world are best known for their outstanding contribution in education sector, social justice advocacy and spiritual exercises. This threefold pole of intervention has characterized and continues to define the work of the Jesuits for about 500 years and counting. Their long presence in the public scene has touched lives of many generations and their relatively recent presence in Rwanda aligns with their long history of dedicated life and raison d’être to the intrinsic welfare of humanity.
In 2016 JUC reinvented itself with a redefinition of its strategic areas of intervention and expansion of its horizons. Since then, the Centre is committed to discerning appropriate solutions to rampant social justice issues such as economic disparity, youth unemployment, migration wave of refugees, and challenges of gender bias which still threaten the general social fabric.
Therefore, building on the wealth of experience of the Jesuit fathers in the promotion of social justice and dignity of human persons, JUC is committed to devising effective and far-reaching responses to the problems of Rwandan communities through interventions that cater for the welfare of the vulnerable and the safeguard of the dignity of persons from all walks of life.
To this end, to ensure the materialization of its sought-after vision, a threefold approach guides the Centre’s operations, namely: formation in human dignity and values, social empowerment of the youth and the vulnerable population, and lastly but not least, research, advocacy and publication.
