Refugee Microenterprise Project

Funded by the United Way of Summit County, the Refugee Microenterprise Project (RMP) offers small groups resources to build a small, cooperative business.  Many newly arriving refugees have unique skills and talents brought with them from their homelands.  There are musicians and performers among them.  Some are master artisans in weaving or pottery.  Others have strong agricultural, farming experiences and have a desire to grow their own crops for subsistence or for sale.  RMP provides these groups with seed money to purchase tools and supplies, training on how to manage their funds and how to promote their services or goods, and in general provide them with the support and guidance to start a business in America.

A survey was conducted with refugee communities to determine what business areas were of interest to them.  A large number of respondents identified a desire to work with cloth and to harness their weaving and knitting skills.  The sewing program helps the communities to transition to western methods of sewing to compliment their traditional skills.  RMP provides vocational literacy with training in practical sewing techniques.  In addition, the group will receive additional support in the areas of financial management and marketing.   The group will eventually develop products or items for sale to generate income for their themselves, their families and their communities.  Some of them may decide to take their learned skills and apply for openings with local companies.

Here are a few photos from a recently started sewing  program:

ASIA is working with the refugees communities to start other microenterprise endeavors and additional initiatives will be posted here in the future.

For more information, contact (asia@asiainc-ohio.org)