[17] REstart Refugees: breaking down borders and empowering entrepreneurial communities

What this episode covers

REstart Refugees is the world's first local crowdfunding platform for asylum seekers and refugees who want to activate their skills and make a living in their new communities. For more than 10 years, Founder Alexis Rhyner has worked with NGOs and non-profits, including leading international human rights projects and campaigns, and searching for creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. She has a deep understanding of the social enterprise space and is now bringing her experience and expertise to establish a platform that empowers displaced entrepreneurs and works to change the narrative about how we think of refugees. Many refugees have valuable education and experience, but remain stuck in menial jobs, isolated from mainstream society and the economy. The greatest barrier to entrepreneurship is lack of access to traditional business funding, which is not available when you're under refugee status. REstart are working to change that by involving local communities and inviting them to invest, financially and emotionally, in empowering refugees and displaced entrepreneurs to start new ventures. In this episode we talk about the power of social enterprise, the amazing changes that occur when communities empower people and the damaging media portrayal of refugees and how we can challenge and change the narrative. Find out more about REstart Refugees here: https://restartrefugees.com/ (https://restartrefugees.com/) If you're interested in starting or growing a business with purpose, you can access tailored training, advice and support inside the #EthicalHour community: https://ethicalhour.co.uk/our-community/