A determined young businesswoman leverages her personal journey to empower refugees by enhancing their digital skills.
- Social By Design, a new initiative, offers workshops, one-on-one support, and a digital platform in multiple languages.
- Alaa Alsewid’s mission is to overcome digital barriers for refugees, improving their access to essential services and employment.
- The initiative is fueled by a £8,000 grant from the Funding Futures Programme, supporting young social entrepreneurs.
- Alaa’s personal experiences and profound empathy drive her dedication to creating inclusive community solutions.
Alaa Alsewid, an innovative young entrepreneur who relocated from Syria to Greater Manchester, is channeling her experiences into empowering refugee communities. Through her initiative, Social By Design, Alaa provides crucial digital literacy skills to refugees and asylum seekers, enabling them to overcome barriers that restrict access to support services and employment opportunities. She envisions a future where these skills significantly enhance their quality of life and integration.
Alaa conceived the idea for Social By Design upon witnessing posts by Syrian migrants on Facebook, detailing scams that left the most vulnerable terrified and without language or digital skills to seek help. It was this realization that galvanized her to equip these communities with essential knowledge.
Social By Design offers workshops, one-on-one support, and fosters a digital community in Arabic, Spanish, and English. This comprehensive support framework addresses barriers to digital literacy that increase isolation and vulnerability to financial exploitation among refugees in Salford, Manchester, and nearby areas.
The project’s inception was significantly boosted by an £8,000 grant from the Funding Futures Programme. This program, backed by Unltd, Co-op Foundation, and Phoenix Group, aims to support young social entrepreneurs focused on financial inclusion and literacy.
Alaa’s pathway to this endeavor began in 2019 when she arrived in the UK for a master’s degree in media and public relations, building upon her engineering background. Her volunteering with charities back in Syria developed her commitment to aiding her compatriots.
Social By Design is a result of Alaa’s belief that refugees and asylum seekers should be included in the design of programs aimed at them, drawing directly from their experiences and needs. Mentorship from UnLtd has been invaluable, providing new ideas that have allowed her to focus fully on her mission.
Mark Norbury, CEO of UnLtd, praised Alaa as a leading example of young social entrepreneurs who are eager to challenge norms and create solutions that are empathetic and democratic. Nick Crofts, CEO of the Co-op Foundation, emphasized the program’s role in empowering young leaders to create lasting community impacts.
Alaa Alsewid’s vision for Social By Design is a testament to the transformative power of empathy and innovation, positioning digital literacy as a cornerstone of refugee integration and empowerment.
