Aston University - Enactus Aston

Enactus Aston: Chance for Change -take the chance - be the change

"Chance for Change" has transformed the lives of refugees in Birmingham by blending cultural heritage with innovative solutions like the Global Recipe Book. We empowered refugees through digital marketing workshops, helping them build businesses and achieve financial independence. Our free English classes fostered better social integration.

Collaborating with ACH, we listened to refugees' stories, understood their trauma, and built deeper connections. Winning the Action4Impact competition led to a pivotal partnership with Sodexo, which launched refugee recipes in their outlets and purchased 200 books, funding our initiatives. We sold 500 copies of the Global Recipe Book generating £4,300 in revenue, the gross profit margin was approximately 41% which was reinvested to support refugee entrepreneurs.

Highlights included the Supplier Lunch, featuring recipes from our book, and the Stop Hunger Dinner, where our beneficiaries cooked alongside renowned chefs for over 400 guests. These events have helped our beneficiaries to integrate into the society and boost their confidence in a foreign land.

Top 3 Learnings

1. Building trust: Regular meetups and truly listening helped them forge deep connections with us.
2. Overcoming Language Barriers: Offering free English classes boosted confidence and opened doors for better opportunities.
3. Financial Independence: Our enterprise hackathon inspired refugees to turn their skills into thriving businesses.