Give refugees the chance to help themselves
Posted by tomfromthepost on February 5, 2008
Yes I know it sounds like a fatuous slogan from a patronising ad made by Bob Geldof or someone similar*
But today I’ve been writing a short piece about Action Enterprise (a group I know frankly nothing about) giving entrepreneurial lessons to Somalian refugees in Bordesley Green to encourage them into business.
What a great idea.
Firstly because having a refugee set up their own business probably does more than anything else to dispel the ’sponging illegal immigrants’ myth.
Secondly because it marks an acknowledgement that business can be a great way for these people to help make money for themselves, and also for others they work with, instead of relying on government money.
I don’t get enthusiastic about much, but I’m fully behind this one.
Incidentally, if you are, or know, a refugee who wants to get into business, contact Adam Hersi and Action Enterprise on 0121 260 1611.
*Personally I prefer Terry Pratchett’s version: “Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he’s warm for the rest of his life.”
