UNHCR, SICCI, and Ethiraj College for Women join hands to advance refugee inclusion

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and Ethiraj College for Women have united to enhance collaboration on education, research, and community engagement focused on fostering refugee self-reliance and inclusion in India. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) brings together the academic prowess of Ethiraj College for Women with the practical experience of UNHCR and the SICCI-UNHCR Partnership Forum, dedicated to empowering refugees economically and socially in India, including Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.

The Department of Social Work will act as the coordinating department for the collaborative endeavors, as announced in an official release from UNHCR. The signing ceremony was attended by P. Ganapathi, former president of SICCI; V.M. Muralidharan, Chairman of Ethiraj College for Women; S. Uma Gowrie, Principal and Secretary of Ethiraj College for Women; and Valan Michael, Head of the UNHCR Field Office.