Education plays a key role in a Sri Lankan refugee child’s life, for it is the basis for future independence and empowerment. OfERR firmly believes in building human capital and harnessing it to make the world a better place. OfERR’s advocacy with the state and central government which continues every academic year has ensured free…

We believe that peace and growth can only be achieved if a society empowers all its citizens equally. From the time the first Sri Lankan refugees arrived on Indian shores to this day, one of OfERR’s top priorities has been the empowerment of women. Our extensive programs focus on financial independence, personal safety, creating support…

Many refugees have experienced the horrors of war first-hand and some suffer intense feelings of loneliness, displacement and uncertainty in a new country. They are vulnerable to dangers such as migrant smuggling, alcoholism and suicide. OfERR’s counseling program which began as early as 1984, is intended to provide psycho-social support to refugees in camps, and…

During the civil war that lasted a quarter of a century, tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils fled their homes as family members were killed, injured or went missing without a trace. The survivors of the conflict arrived in India in boats, traumatized and deeply scarred, often with just the clothes on their back.…

The income generation and livelihood program from OfERR is an effort aimed at building capacity, making refugees self-sufficient and providing support through government institutions to receive certifications that improve their business prospects. The program was born out of the desire to put a stop to migrant smuggling – a grave risk that many construction and…

There are presently 64,208 refugees living in 107 government-run camps and roughly 40,000 refugees are estimated to be living outside the camps across Tamil Nadu. OfERR’s Community Building Program in the camps is aimed at strengthening the systems and structures in the refugee camps in order to strengthen local advocacy and improve basic facilities. It…

The civil war in Sri Lanka was long and brutal, lasting a quarter of a century (1984-2009), killing thousands and displacing tens of thousands more. Today, over seven years after this conflict ended, there are one lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India, with over 67,000 people in camps and 40,000 living elsewhere in Tamil…