Day 2: Talent Beyond Boundaries at the Global #RefugeeForum
Our delegation’s daily dispatches from Geneva
Another action-packed day in Geneva with the official launch of the Global Refugee Forum.
Highlights
1. Our CEO, Steph Cousins, presented on behalf of the Global Task Force for Refugee Labour Mobility at a High-Level Event on "Fostering Entrepreneurship and Employment."
2. The stunning display by Made51. Brought to life by UNHCR, Made51 helps refugees build sustainable livelihoods utilizing their heritage craftsmanship and culture.
3. The entrance to the Global Refugee Forum. This is where 4,000 delegates from 165 countries, including refugee participants, heads of state, governments, businesses and non-profit leaders from around the world have walked through this morning to commence the Forum officially.
4. Derar Alkhateeb, a Talent Beyond Boundaries alumni and co-founder of Pathway Club, a pay-it-forward revolving fund to support displaced people with international job offers, about to enter the Global Refugee Forum. Derar is a representative of the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility Refugee Advisory Group.
5. Our COO, Patrick O’Leary attended a session on changing the narrative about refugees along with our refugee delegate and alumnus, Ammar Sammour. Embedded in the frameworks of many international legal documents about refugees is the concept they are “burdens” than need to be shared. Talent Beyond Boundaries categorically rejects this framing - it is erroneous and harmful - and much of our work is about reshaping this narrative.
6. Sharing knowledge between the NHS refugee nurses hiring program and the Northern Territory Government: Our COO, Patrick O’Leary and UK and Europe Director, Marina Brizar, organized a meeting between Tanzil Rahman, Executive Director of Human Capital in the NT Government, and Mish Hill, Chief Nurse and Midwife of the NT with Antony Law, International Regional Director at NHS Professionals. Antony has extensive experienced in recruiting refugee nurses through TBB's program. Northern Territory is exploring recruiting refugee healthcare workers and looking to Talent Beyond Boundaries’ experience in the UK for guidance.
7. Our COO Patrick O’Leary watched a screening of the film “stay alive, my son”. A powerful XR refugee story based on a true escape to the Thai border. Afterwards Patrick met the director Victoria Bousis, and talked about how incredibly powerful and moving the experience was - an important and necessary story to share at the Global Refugee Forum.
8. We got to witness labour mobility going big on the map of global advocacy as the framework for the multi-stakeholder pledge on skill-based complimentary pathways was announced in front of thousands of delegates. Read more about it here.
Things that resonated with us from the day:
HE Ms Robinah Nbbanja - "No country, big or small, rich or poor, is immune to the ravaging effects of the refugee crisis."
Mr. Koji Yanai - Director of Fast Retailing Company Ltd, which owns Uniqlo, talked about "a huge unrealized potential for refugees to participate economically, socially and culturally" and pledged to renew $38 million in funding for UNHCR by 2027. He called on private sector colleagues to unite and make a difference. "Your support is needed now more than ever."
Worth a read: Global Survey on Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion 2023