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Social enterprise Na’amal is wielding the power and flexibility of remote work to change refugees’ lives
Written by
MaryLou Costa

When Cambridge University research associate Lorraine Charles began to explore how remote work could change refugees’ fortunes, inject millions of pounds into crisis-stricken economies, and boost employment rates, she faced many closed doors.

“If I had a penny for each time someone told me remote work would never be widespread, I’d be rich by now,” says Charles. But that was in 2016, before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered offices across the globe, and remote work became the only way for business to continue.

Garnering support and extra funding from international bodies like the World Economic Forum, Charles eventually built up the momentum to co-found Na’amal, a social enterprise that partners with leading organisations to help refugees and other under-represented communities secure remote work opportunities through skills training and mentoring.

Covid and the remote boom

Though some initially saw Na’amal’s cause as “niche” and “non-viable”, as soon as Covid-19 hit, Charles’ inbox became flooded with expressions of interest to support her work. Na’amal has since helped around 300 refugees receive training in digital, communication, and leadership skills, giving them the confidence to put themselves in front of the growing number of companies now hiring remote roles.

Along the way Na’amal has had collaborations with NGOs such as Techfugees, as well as US institution MIT’s Refugee Action Hub (in which they worked with refugees from 22 different countries). Na’amal has also recently partnered with freelancer platform Upwork to help companies hire what they describe as “displaced talent”.

Not only does remote work help refugees support their families, gain financial independence and meaningfully improve the overall quality of their life, but it can also prevent them from resorting to undervalued and unpaid work in their local community, says Charles. In her words, remote work “reconceptualises” what employment looks like for refugees, moving beyond the traditional view that work opportunities are contained within a local economy. In turn, refugees can work remotely in a corporate setting with the salary and opportunities to match, lifting their confidence and their prospects.

“Obviously not all professions and sectors can do this, but if remote becomes the de facto working model, you don't have to live in global capitals to have access to opportunity,” says Charles. “Opportunities aren't everywhere, but they can be with this new space we're living in… I see remote work as a democratisation of employment.”

Na’amal’s successes

Many Na’amal alumni have landed promising remote positions at small tech companies, with some even scoring roles at big-name firms like Meta and Black & Decker. Other Na’amal participants have tapped into their entrepreneurial drive and set up their own education programmes to help their peers back home.

From the outset, Na’amal has advocated for fair pay rates and avoided working with companies that want to take advantage of refugees by paying them below market wages. Na’amal’s partner programmes have also made sure to boost opportunities for refugee women, who experience higher rates of unemployment than men.

“We want to make sure we have at least 50% women in our programmes. We need to understand that we have to do a different kind of outreach to get them to apply – we have to make it seem accessible to them,” says Charles.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought refugees and remote work into the spotlight for many, with job-search platforms like LinkedIn becoming populated with posts promoting remote opportunities for Ukrainian talent – not only for people who fled the country, but for those who remain.

“There’s been a sudden realisation that refugees are humans and need protection,” says Charles. “When for the last 20 years or longer, the whole narrative around refugees has been very dehumanising”.

“Most refugees live in the developing world, so we have to stop thinking that the refugee crisis is a European problem.”

Rethinking education for the jobs of tomorrow

Not only does Charles hope the continued adoption of remote work will benefit refugees, but that the skills she’s helping them acquire will be taught earlier on in the wider education system.

“A lot of people simply don't have the skills to work [in the corporate world], and need to be upskilled, because the jobs they're doing will likely be made redundant by digitalisation,” Charles explains.

“So, if our kids don't have the right focus on technology and digitalisation in primary and secondary school, by the time they leave school, they're going to have to start from scratch, and that’s really hard.”

Charles’ next research project is being carried out in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation and looks more broadly at the future of work, specifically at the link between digitalisation and employment opportunities. She notes that instilling refugees into remote-work positions will be “the hardest bit to get right” in an increasingly digital future.

“Why should people train for jobs that are going to disappear, and how can you prepare people for the jobs of the future, not the jobs of yesterday?” Charles questions.

With all the triumphs of Na’amal so far, it’s no doubt that she’ll be able to provide some answers.

For more information, visit naamal.org

Author’s bio:

MaryLou Costa has written for The Times, WorkLife, Business Insider, Stylist, The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail and others. She's fascinated by the future of work, especially changes that advance women’s careers.

Illustrations by Oriana Fenwick.

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