What is the name of your organization?
International Literacy and Development
What is the name of your solution?
Refugee Business Development
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Facilitating an ecosystem of technology and culturally appropriate coaching to empower refugees for financial stability in the US
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Dallas, Texas
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Refugees and immigrants face unique financial challenges that limit their access to banking, credit, and small business opportunities. In Dallas — historically the second-largest refugee resettlement city in the U.S. — over 20,000 refugees and immigrants reside in Vickery Meadow, speaking 80+ languages. Language barriers, limited financial literacy, and cultural obstacles severely restrict their ability to achieve economic stability. Our program addresses these challenges by delivering personalized coaching, multilingual resources, and innovative fintech tools, creating a pathway for refugees and immigrants to build credit, manage finances, and launch businesses. Research shows that providing adult education in a learner’s native language significantly improves financial outcomes (Aker et al., 2024). Our solution empowers these individuals to transform resilience into financial independence — in Dallas and beyond.
What is your solution?
Our solution is a custom built personalized coaching program enhanced by cloud-based tools that streamline learning and support. Instead of solely relying on a traditional Learning Management System (LMS), our program blends interactive coaching, multilingual resources, and automated follow-ups to keep clients engaged and accountable. Clients receive guidance on budgeting, credit-building, banking, and business development, with content available in their preferred language. We connect aspiring entrepreneurs to mentors, lender partnerships, and local business resources to guide them through planning, funding, and launching businesses. By combining tailored coaching with efficient digital tools, we empower refugees and immigrants to confidently navigate financial and business systems, improving their stability and self-reliance.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our target population is refugees in the Dallas area seeking guidance on navigating financial and business systems in the U.S. Research shows that 40% of refugees were small business owners in their home countries, and 13% of resettled refugees are entrepreneurial, compared to 9% of the general population. However, refugees face significant challenges, including unfamiliarity with legal and financial structures, limited access to capital and networks, and marketing difficulties. Without credit history or knowledge of the system, establishing financial stability, finding meaningful work, or acquiring business loans can seem out of reach.
Through extensive research, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups with the refugee community and local organizations, we identified gaps in language-sensitive and refugee-focused services. Our solution addresses these needs by providing language-accessible financial and business education, personalized coaching from refugee business owners, and connections to resources, lender partnerships, and expert mentors. By combining technology, tailored guidance, culturally appropriate coaching, and mentorship, we empower refugees to confidently navigate financial and business systems, promoting stability, reducing stress, and increasing self-reliance.
