Joseph Lopir’s Post

📖 New Article Alert! 📖 Did you know Africa hosts around 30 million internally displaced persons, refugees and asylum-seekers? In our latest piece, we explore how tapping into refugee talent can address skills gaps and create opportunities across Africa. Discover the challenges young refugees face in finding employment, learn about success stories like Mary Maker's, and find out how you can make a difference in creating a more inclusive job market. Read the full article on our website: [https://buff.ly/4f4RwSP #AfricaCareerNetwork #RefugeeTalent #InclusiveEmployment

How is your organisation marking Refugee Week? Refugee Week provides organisations and individuals alike an opportunity to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees around the world. But with our recent Refugees At Work (2024) research showing that 40% of hiring managers were unsure of the law around hiring refugees, we know there is still much to be done to support refugees to enter and thrive in the workplace. In her latest article, Marianna Zajac, Senior Research Psychologist, looks at how organisations can best support refugees at work. Her article covers: - The main findings of our Refugees' At Work research - 3 ways organisations can better support refugees at work - What refugee week is and why it's important Read here in full: https://lnkd.in/eakvA5vs #RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs #InclusiveCulture #DEI #Research

The Prime Legacy of Global Powerhouses—𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 | 𝐃𝐚𝐢 𝐋𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 | 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢 | 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐝𝐲𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧. Empowering Refugees and Migrants in the Workforce: Strategies for Inclusive Employment Acquisition. In the fast pace and insanity of employment acquisition, refugees and migrants face a myriad of challenges that pose significant obstacles to their professional integration. From cultural and linguistic barriers to the lack of recognition for their qualifications, these individuals encounter a complex landscape filled with hurdles that impede their access to meaningful employment opportunities. Against this backdrop of adversity, a recent panel discussion organized by LinkedIn on World Refugee Day brought to the forefront the pressing need to support refugees within the workplace. The dialogue, featuring insights from distinguished figures such as Dai Le MP refugee ambassador Yaser Naseri, and Ukrainian refugee Vadym Shcherban delved into the lived experiences of migrants and offered innovative solutions to facilitate their successful integration into the workforce. One key takeaway from the discussion was the pivotal role that corporations play in championing diversity and inclusion within their organizations. A welcoming environment that empowers refugees and migrants to thrive professionally can be created by implementing strategic initiatives such as diversity training, mentorship programs, and inclusive hiring practices. The power of diversity lies in the unique perspectives and talents that individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to the table. A wealth of untapped potential and innovation within their teams can be driven by companies through embracing these differences and providing support tailored to the needs of refugees and migrants. As we navigate the complex terrain of employment acquisition for refugees and migrants, it is essential for businesses to prioritize inclusivity and create opportunities for all individuals to succeed. A more equitable and inclusive workforce, where every individual has the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully, can be built by working together to break down barriers and foster an environment of acceptance and support. Your extraordinary superpowers and contributions will forever be cherished and deeply appreciated in my heart. On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you superheroes. Thank you immensely, powerhouse—Brendan Wong🫡🥂🇦🇺👍🏻 #superheroes #powerstation #powerhouse #notalone #backtoback #unitednations #supwerpowers

A good idea to adopt and tailor for displaced #refugees within #Africa communities. In May 2022, the World Economic Forum launched the Refugee Employment Alliance, harnessing the opportunity to learn from the rapid response to the war in Ukraine to motivate progressive and equitable solutions for the economic integration of forcibly displaced populations globally: 1. Ensure legal and timely access to local labour markets 2. Prioritize skills-first approaches and reduce reliance on language in hiring 3. Create visibility for job openings and proactively support job matching 4. Drive public-private partnership “The biggest challenge that many refugees face is access to the formal labour market. Language barriers, lack of recognition of their qualifications, and discrimination all limit job opportunities.” “Refugees are experts at resilience and adaptability and tend to stay with the same employer longer, which is a true win-win.” The Refugee Employment Alliance is a coalition of #business, civil society, and #government leaders who coordinate and scale action on refugee #employment. The Alliance runs to January 2024 and is open to Chief Human Resources Officer, Ministers, and Civil Society Executives, all of whom can appoint a delegate to support the Alliance’s activities.

Last night I was invited to speak at an Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services event with their Immigrant Researchers Support Network (IRSN). My presentation focused on Knowledge Mobilization and how they, as researchers, can become more active. Dr. Christopher Kyriakides from York U's Centre for Refugee Studies spoke first. It was a fantastic and engaging presentation. But one thing stood out. He spoke about a study he did in 2019 that explored key themes around the resettlement experiences of privately sponsored Syrian refugees in Ontario. It particularly focused on the impact of online pre-arrival contact via digital communication platforms like Facebook, Skype, and WhatsApp between refugees and their private sponsors. As he was describing the work, I realized I didn't know about it. And that it had significant findings related to the impact of digital/online pre-arrival services that would inform my own work. How did I not know about this really insightful research?! Beyond my bruised ego of not knowing about the report when I felt it should have crossed my radar at some point, I also realized that it would have added to the body of evidence we could have used in our various reports about sector innovation, hybrid services, and the path to the future of service delivery in the Immigrant and Refugee-serving sector. Of course it still can. This simple, but exceptionally important finding: "Those who had regular pre-arrival contact via digital applications such as Facebook, Skype, and Whatsapp reported more positive, 'successful' resettlement experiences than those who had not." You'll want to read the entire report. Unfortunately Dr. Kyriakides had to leave immediately after his presentation, so I wasn't able to chat with him about his report. But I'll be reaching out. To thank him for this important work, but also to thank him for the awesome Knowledge Mobilization segue I used to tell this story to folks attending. This report was published openly in Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees. It was directly relevant to my own work and recent research. And yet I did not know about it? How could it have not crossed my radar? How could it have been missed in my literature reviews? I used this example to discuss why Knowledge Mobilization is so important. I'm not saying my missing it was anyone's fault. But important work like this needs to be shared widely, in many forms, to many relevant audiences. It was a great opportunity to bring the Knowledge Mobilization lens to some important work, highlight the benefits of doing KM with a wide and inclusive lens. And the benefits of just talking about your work. Which Dr. Kyriakides did. And I'm incredibly grateful I was in the room when he did it! Read the report here.

We are fast approaching Refugee Week 2024 (June 17th - 23rd) 🎉 This year we're starting a refugee employment forum to give business leaders and refugees the opportunity to ask questions and learn from others. A powerful way to break down barriers and open up opportunities. 👉 Save the link to the forum (live on the 17th June): https://loom.ly/ARWlQyE Your answers to questions on the forum could help bring about change. For refugees, this means learning valuable insights from anyone who works in the UK. And for business leaders, it means learning from refugees to create more inclusive and refugee-friendly workplaces. Anyone with a job in the UK and/or who is from a refugee background should be able to answer some, or all, of the questions. It doesn't matter what you do, what level you're at, or the industry you work in - everyone will have something to offer. 💙 #RefugeeWeek #BusinessBehindRefugees

Finding a job is hard, but even more so for refugees and migrants. They face many challenges including cultural and language barriers, prior qualifications not being recognised and unconscious bias from employers. This, along with the ways workplaces can support refugees, were the key themes of a panel discussion hosted by LinkedIn to mark World Refugee Day on June 20. It was great to hear from Federal MP for Fowler Dai Le MP, refugee ambassador Yaser Naseri and Ukrainian refugee Vadym Shcherban who shared their lived experiences as migrants and solutions for helping refugees join the workforce. Some key takeaways: 💡 Dai called for companies to have the boldness to employ someone who may not have a skillset but has the potential to be trained. She said it's not easy and it can be a risk, but having the patience to give someone a chance to learn can work. 💡 Vadym suggested employers offer refugees with opportunities to undertake real-life projects, provide them with feedback and references and placing them on a waitlist for future jobs. 💡 Yaser said employing refugees played a significant part in giving them confidence and a feeling of belonging which transformed other areas of their lives. Thanks Tuan Pham and the LinkedIn Social Impact team for organising a very insightful event that inspired greater action to help refugees and migrants thrive in their new home countries. #worldrefugeeday

June 20th is World Refugee Day, and as such, an important day to celebrate reseilience and diversity through education. Here's one refugee story and an empowering organization behind him. Meet Eiad. 👇 Eiad, a young graduate, fled Syria in 2012 to escape the horrors of war and violence inflicted by the national army, responsible for the deaths of over 200,000 civilians. His dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in a wooden boat ended with him being granted asylum in a new home under the protection of the Geneva Convention. Despite being a qualified dentist and residing in a country facing a talent shortage like the UK, it took Eiad nearly six years to pursue his profession. Eiad's story put the challenge in perspective for me, placing a reflection on the resilience and determination of individuals like him who overcome immense obstacles with grace and courage. What is World Refugee Day? 🔍 Established by the United Nations, World Refugee Day seeks to educate the public on refugee issues, mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and celebrate the contributions of refugees. This day serves as a reminder that everyone has the right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee. Spotlight on Chatterbox: 🌐 One remarkable initiative making a difference is Chatterbox, an innovative online language learning platform. What sets Chatterbox apart is its unique model of employing refugees as language tutors. Not only does this provide refugees with meaningful employment opportunities, it also allows them to use their language skills and cultural knowledge to educate others. What Can You Do: 🔗 HR professionals and leaders can committ to supporting refugees in the workplace by taking a pledge and connecting with a community dedicated to creating inclusive work environments for refugees. I've greatly appreciated learning about Chatterbox from Mursal Hedayat MBE and look forward to supporting the iniative. https://lnkd.in/eEbNNHkZ #ElevateRefugees #RefugeeWeek #WorldRefugeeDay #EducationForAll

Diary Entery 1. I am grateful for Polaron Language Services for giving me the opportunity to represent in Sydney. This is the first time I have been flown to another state in my work. It feels great, to feel acknowledged and appreciated. More employers should do the same with their staff. For the past few days I have been in Sydney and it has been extremely eventful. This week was refugee week and it takes place every year across the world. The sad reality is we show we care but action needs to be done more in Australia especially through the employment sector. Hire Refugees! One great workplace giant is leading by example : IKEA . I had the opportunity to go and network on how refugee inclusion can grow workforce potential. Inclusion is seen as a universal human right. The aim of inclusion is about giving equal access and opportunities and getting rid of discrimination and intolerance (removal of barriers). Carmen Garcia AM at Community Corporate have been developing and applying direct employment for refugees. As they say it takes 2 to tango! Just fabulous work! Thank you to Betina Szkudlarek for the lovely invitation and great conversations with your students. It was lovely meeting you Simon Sogora ,the work you are doing with refugees at CORE community services is unbelievable. Harriet Pope & Charmain King are doing a fantastic job by hiring refugees in the employment sector. Also, Woolworths has also implemented similar entry requirements to help refugees in accessing their first job in Australia. It’s a given fact that there is still a lack in knowledge when hiring refugees. We need to focus on social cohesion, the society present, customers and staff development. All these factors play an important role in the unconscious bias that still exists in the workplace. If you are a leader in your firm and believe that you could make a difference to others, please stop and reflect on what an impact you have or are about to make on one or more refugees. Employers are reluctant on taking on refugees. There is a lot of negative stigma. Unemployment in Australia is suffering. I will explain this in the next entry in detail…. Example of being in a refugees shoes. I heard a story about a refugee who Was a engineer who escaped by war and religion. Came to Australia by boat, 150 people smuggled for safety but only 35 survivors. Spent 3 years in detention and is released in the Australian community. This person has endured so much and yet is still standing wanting to start a new life. It’s been 6 months in a new country, learning the English language , meeting community members from the same race, accessing support services, is living in shared housing and now is ready to work in a country that has endless opportunities. It’s been 3 months now, applications denined, rejected, not good enough, looking for more experience. And the list continues… Maybe it’s just giving refugees a fair go, what’s changed? #refugeeweek2024