When you don’t get support from a government as a refugee, surviving is hard without sponsors. A small business can help them survive.
In the shadows of ongoing displacement crises in regions like Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, Freethinkers International is spearheading a transformative concept. Traditionally dependent on the lengthy and uncertain asylum processes in neighboring countries, asylum seekers face not just a lack of safety but also a life of dependency. Our initiative aims to change this narrative by funding small businesses to foster sustainable empowerment.
Asylum seekers often find themselves in precarious situations, such as trans individuals from Yemen facing years of limbo in Egypt, or Afghans in Turkey with slim chances of formal asylum approval. Yet, amidst these challenges lies a potent solution: entrepreneurship. With a starting investment ranging from $500 to $1,000, these brave souls can launch small businesses, turning their skills and passions into sources of sustainable income.
Consider Mumino from Sudan, currently awaiting his first UNHCR interview in Kenya. Struggling to survive and repeatedly denied employment, he was recently arrested for lacking a refugee card and threatened with deportation. Owning a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) would enable him not only to support himself but also to send money back to his family, who are in hiding.
Then there’s Issack, who fled Sudan and has been wandering from country to country. By starting a small shoe repair shop, he could begin to settle down.
Also, consider a family from Afghanistan supporting themselves in Iran. Earning only $90 a month, they barely scrape by. Starting their own business could significantly reduce their dependency on sporadic support and goodwill from others.
When we begin supporting people, we often don’t realize how long they will need help. What frequently starts as short-term assistance can turn
