How Pathway Club is paving the way for displaced people to migrate for work
Pathway Club Co-Founder Derar Alkhateeb (centre) with TBB staff, preparing to welcome a new arrival at Sydney Airport.
Organizations like Talent Beyond Boundaries are dedicated to facilitating job matches and making skilled migration accessible for displaced people.
But for people who have been living displaced, perhaps for years without a stable income, the expenses involved in relocating for work can be a deal-breaker.
Some refugees face significant financial obstacles that they need to overcome before they can travel to their new host countries - like paying for health tests, vaccinations, police checks, passport applications, pre-departure accommodation and living expenses. Employers generally cover some of these costs, but not all - and sometimes not for all family members.
Helping refugees capitalise on a career opportunity
Pathway Club is a refugee-led initiative that provides displaced people with financial support to help them take advantage of international job opportunities. A small amount of money (usually between $500-$4000 USD) in the form of an unconditional, untied, pay-it-forward grant enables people to pay for the pre-departure steps necessary for them and their families to migrate internationally.
After they are comfortably settled, displaced people who have migrated for work can help others who are on a similar journey by ‘paying it forward’ to Pathway Club in the form of tax-deductible donation. (Pathway Club is a charitable entity registered in Australia - and soon to be registered in the UK and Canada).
Pathway Club Global Program Manager, Ali Wawi (centre) welcoming a new arrival in Perth, Australia.
The people behind the idea
Pathway Club was co-founded in 2022 by John Cameron (also Co-Founder and CTO of TBB) and Derar Alkhateeb (a Syrian Software Developer, and member of the TBB refugee alumni community). It is managed day-to-day by Ali Wawi (another TBB refugee alum) and supported by a network of TBB alumni globally.
“My foundation kick-started Pathway Club” explains John, “and we have since been fortunate to secure additional financial support from UNHCR - however, the intention of Pathway Club is that it will be a self-sustaining, refugee-led initiative, managed and supported by those refugees who find their way to new lives through labour mobility pathways. They are the Pathway Club. And what an inspiring bunch they are”.
“Pathway Club is a great idea because the refugees can give back” says Ali, “so that this money is helping other refugees that are offered a job in a new country - and the loop continues. The good faith continues and the idea will never die. As a former refugee myself, I know what refugees face; what they need, and what obstacles they have to overcome. I feel very excited to work with Pathway Club helping refugees access essential funds to start their new lives”.
Get involved
Pathway Club welcomes and encourages donations from all refugee labour mobility alumni (even those who didn’t receive a Pathway Club grant) as a way to help others who are on a similar journey.
To make a donation today, visit pathwayclub.org/donate (donations from non-refugees who wish to support this initiative are also gratefully accepted!)
Pathway Club wasn’t just established to distribute grants and accept donations. It’s also designed to be an ‘club’ for displaced talent alumni globally; a community where people can share ideas, support each other, meet and collaborate, and work together to welcome newcomers.
Those who wish to get updates about Pathway Club can subscribe to the mailing list via their website.
