Nawal, SEP operations manager since inception in 2014, was born a refugee in Jerash. Her daughter Nada has given birth to two lovely children, Zeina and Tamim, who are 4th generation refugees in Jordan. Status as a refugee can last a lifetime, and this is why we need long-term solutions.

We are living in a world where 1 person is forcibly displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution. It is the highest levels of displacement on record according to UNHCR.

68.5 million people have been forced from home, and among them are nearly 25.4 million refugees. More than half of refugees are under the age of 18.

Every year since 2001, the United Nations and more than 100 countries have marked World Refugee Day on June 20th, to raise global public awareness of the obstacles the world’s refugees face every year, while also celebrating their courage and strength to persevere in the midst of ongoing humanitarian crisis. There are initiatives and events taking place in the world on this day:

The International Trade Centre planned an event in Geneva which will highlight the work of refugee entrepreneurs, allow you to hear out their stories, and explore ways to support their businesses. 

SEP Jordan will deliver the keynote speech at this event. We will discuss how, despite significant hardships, refugees are pushing the limits of what most people recognise as the general entrepreneur spirit.  There is a resilience among refugee communities that enables them to thrive, not just to survive, and to be creative members of society. Please do register, if you wish to attend!

SEP Jordan will also be taking part in the UNHCR Summer Bazaar in Amman, at Gallery Ras Ain from June 20th to June 22nd. It is an annual food and art bazaar held to showcase the talents and skills of refugees of different nationalities through a wide variety of handmade products made by refugees. All proceeds go to the participating refugees.

Please check out the Facebook page for more information.

Fashion for Impact

Fashion is a market that has been based on consumption only; but today it is turning into something else. It is an area where meaning, craft, ancient know-how are all slowly gaining importance. The savoir-faire of an artist who is a refugee, can give a special value to an accessory or a dress. By the world getting to know that beautiful items were made by refugees - and most of the time by women – opportunities for normal lives are being created.

(Article from Marie Claire UK, edition: July 2019)

Would you like to take action?  

Learn about the Global Women Leaders strategic philanthropy network: a vibrant community of women change leaders from around the world, dedicated to leveraging their skills, time, network, innovative thinking and funding to extend the reach and impact of their humanitarian-impact partners.

Check out the Refugee Investment Network for a list of current refugee-focused business initiatives and you will find a huge amount of reading material, which corroborates our theory: refugees are investable and represent a huge opportunity for the world and for their community.

We strongly believe that displacing the dependance on aid and replacing it with empowerment, is the key to turning a drama into an opportunity. This week the RIN launch new initiatives: follow them on Twitter and support them!

And of course, keep talking about SEP to all your friends: it is thanks to you, our precious SEP Ambassadors, that we are taking the stories of wonderful heroes from Jerash camp to the world and slowly changing their future,

Thank you!