“We stand for the dignity and self-empowerment of refugees.”
BizGees is a financial inclusion project based in London, with the intention of offering financial support to refugees in creating their own micro-businesses.
Co-Founder of BizGees, Zulfiqar Deo, says he aims to help textile designers from British Pakistani communities to gain exposure in the mainstream – whilst also supporting an integral cause.
There are 68 million refugees across the globe.
With current situations of climate change and conflict, this figure is escalating by approximately 300,000 each year.
Furthermore, 98% of refugees are based in the developing world.
Currently, BizGees are organizing crowdfunding campaigns in order to raise more funds and organise them into microloans.
One campaign, in particular, Designers for Refugees, is working with the British Pakistan Foundation, Swat Valley Guild and The RSA to support textile designers from the British Pakistani community.
The designers will be mentioned in a blog posted on the RSA website and through a crowdfunding campaign.
The designs raising the required funds will be made in the Swat Valley by local designers.
The project aims to allow under-represented business owners to engage in the mainstream financial system.
Using alternative finance-based interest, BizGees grants refugees access to training, inventory and business mentoring for six months in order to establish micro businesses in below 5 dollars a day communities.
The refugees pay back the value of the investment when the business is running.
Th BizGees founding team have flourishing careers as mentors, entrepreneurs and consultants.
The prevailing factor of all successful entrepreneurs is motivation – a will.
Many refugees are brimming with this motivation, which is what those at Bizgees acknowledge. What they lack, however, are resources. This is where BizGees comes in.
They do more than just provide funding. They arrange for training, which involves six months of local business mentoring and access to inventory.
Their mission is to encourage engagement between refugee communities and their supporter base. As well as generating social engagement for marginalised communities, this also promotes economic inclusion for refugees.
The designers for refugees campaign offers support to upcoming textile designers, to help build their brands and create job opportunities in the post-conflict region of Pakistan – Swat Valley.
BizGees are seeking to select 3 designers for this campaign.
The deadline for this is 24 August 2018.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Don’t delay! Help a great cause whilst gaining exposure for your designs by signing up here.
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