Entrepreneurship Support for People in Refugeee Like Situations

Are You Syrious?

Are You Syrious? is a volunteer-run media and advocacy group that works with refugees and other underprivileged people. They are active in several European countries; in Croatia they operate a volunteer-run integration center with a lot of different workshops, daily volunteer shifts in Porin reception center in Zagreb and many other activities.

Business in the Community Ireland

Are you an unemployed asylum seeker, refugee or migrant living in Ireland? Are you looking for a job and you don’t know where to start your job search? We can help you develop your employment skills through the EPIC Programme.

CVO

CVO is the centre for evening education

Centar za mir, nenasilje i ljudska prava Osijek

The Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - Osijek is a citizens' association founded in 1992. The activities of its members are aimed at building peace, protecting and promoting human rights and freedoms, and promoting creative methods of conflict resolution on an individual, group and political level. 

Centar za mirovne studije

Centar za mirovne studije (eng. Center for Peace Studies) is a civil society organisation that protects human rights and pursues social change based on the values of democracy, anti-fascism, nonviolence, peacebuilding, solidarity and equality using activism, education, research, advocacy and direct support. They provide free legal aid for asylum seekers, persons with international protection and foreigners in the matters of asylum and status. They also run educational initiatives on supporting inclusive society and affirming economic and social rights of all citizens.

Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk (CAW)

Mind-Spring is a psycho-educational programme for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with the aim of increasing resilience to help cope with the future. The basic in this is own strength.

Citizens Information

Introduction

This page lists organisations that are helping people who have come to Ireland from Ukraine. We will update this page with new information regularly.

You can also read about how to get state supports, including immigration status, social welfare and healthcare.

The organisations listed here are providing services across the whole country. Many local groups and charities provide help too.

A Community Response Forum has been set up in each local authority area to help deliver local supports for Ukrainians.

Citizens Information

When you start working for yourself, you are classed as ‘self-employed’ and a ‘sole trader’. A sole trader is when you set up a business on your own.

In general, you are a self-employed sole trader if you:

Run your own business and are responsible for its successes and failures
Have several customers
Regularly sell goods or services to make a profit
Are paid for the service you provide
Decide how, when and where you work

It is relatively easy to become a sole trader (see ‘How to become a sole trader’ below). However, if your business fails, your personal assets could be used to pay back your creditors (people or organisation your business owes money to).
Set up a business without becoming a ‘sole trader’

If you want to keep your personal assets and business assets separate, you can set up a ‘limited company’ instead. Read about the different types of business structures, including how to set up a business (or ‘partnership’) with other people.

If you are a non-EEA national, you can read about coming to set up a business or invest in Ireland.

Croatia for Ukraine

Croatia for Ukraine is an initiative run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. This webpage contains comprehensive useful information for the reception and care of displaced persons from Ukraine, but also information for everyone who wants to help the displaced population of Ukraine. Services offered include assistance with legal matters, accommodation, welfare, employment, healthcare and education. The website is available in Ukrainian and Croatian.

Croatian Employment Service

The Croatian Employment Service – CES (Croatian: Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje – HZZ) is a public institution which plays a key role in regulating supply and demand in the labour market of the Republic of Croatia. The CES offer support in the job search process and provide educational programs to support skill development and career progression. The central webpage is available in English and Ukrainian.

Crosscare Refugee Service

Crosscare Refugee Service (formerly Vincentian Refugee Centre) is an information, advocacy and referral organisation for people with Stamp 4 residency, Refugees and Asylum seekers. It is a project of Crosscare, the Social Care Agency of the Dublin Archdiocese. 

Cursa

Education for adults, second change education.

Doras

Doras is based in Limerick and provides direct support services to asylum-seekers and refugees which includes a legal service and an advice and information centre as well as campaigning on policy and working on integration planning.

Dublin City of Sanctuary

Support with company incorporation, business plans, social welfare entitlements, accounting, revenue requirements and with marketing, websites and social media

European Commission

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UNHCR and IOM have put together a policy guide to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of migrants and refugees by supporting their entrepreneurial activities. The guide aims to provide high-level, practical recommendations on policies and programmes to support migrant and refugee entrepreneurship.

The guide proposes policy options, measures and initiatives that governments and other stakeholders can adopt, with possible adaptation to local needs and circumstances. It aims to support policymakers and practitioners by highlighting the benefits of promoting entrepreneurship for migrants and refugees, identifying challenges, proposing policy objectives and options and providing case studies and good practices.

Failte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland helps to support tourism industry growth in Ireland through the investment strategy, which underpins all our investment in tourism capital projects, including all grant schemes and strategic partnerships.

This investment fund, administered by Fáilte Ireland, supports tourism capital investment projects and initiatives by both the public and private sectors and helps them tap into the potential Ireland has as a world-class tourism destination.

Through this strategy, we aim to deliver genuinely innovative projects that will transform visitor experiences for Ireland’s target markets while supporting jobs in the industry and protecting our natural environment.

In addition under the EU Just Transition Fund, Fáilte Ireland has been appointed as an intermediate body which acts under the responsibility of EMRA, tasked with the administration of up to €68 million for a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026. Through this scheme Fáilte Ireland will invest in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities. Click here for further information.

Galway Rsocommon Education and Training Board

We offer an extensive range of education and training services across our many locations in Galway and Roscommon including Primary Education, Post Primary Education, Further Education and Training, Outdoor Education, Music Education and Youth Services.

Our Guidance and Information Service can offer impartial and confidential information to those wishing to explore our Further Education and Training options and to those wishing to return to education.

Government Flanders

Information on Professional Card

Government Flanders - Agnetschap Integratie & Inburgering

Information on learning and practising Dutch. Information on courses.

Hotelschool Koksijde 'Ter Duinen'

Adults can obtain the certificate of cook and waiter in one year at Ter Duinen using the day school formula (5 days a week). In doing so, they meet the establishment standard. Thanks to a module system (dishes of the day, wine knowledge, serving techniques, etc.), it is also possible to stick to one or more partial certificates. This course is part of adult education and is recognised by the Flemish Community. This course is open to men and women aged 18 and over who aspire to an exciting and successful job in the hotel and restaurant sector.

Hub Brussels

Around 46% of the population of Brussels holds a non-EU nationality. These people face additional difficulties if they want to set up their own business. They include a lack of knowledge of local and national regulations, a lack of information and support services tailored to the needs of migrants and a lack of financing for business start-up.

INGEV Human Development

INGEV supports human development and sustainable development goals particularly by advocating for decent work and economic growth, gender equality, reducing inequalities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

IOM Ireland

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration, providing services and advice to governments and migrants with the aim of promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. In Ireland, IOM provides assistance with voluntary return, family reunification, counter-trafficking and resettlement.

IOM Turkiye

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations System as the leading inter-governmental organization promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. IOM has had a presence in Türkiye since 1991.

Irish Refugee Council

Business incubation supports the start-up and early stage of new business ventures by providing them with the training, support, intensive resources and a development environment in which they can flourish. 

Kolektif Entrepreneurship Centre

Kolektif is a municipality supported centre in Izmir which offers office space, mentoring and training programmes, digital library and networking opportunities among its partners as well as with angel investors. Although business ideas in any sector are welcome, they only accept applications from those with sustainable business ideas.

Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB)

LOETB is one of the main employers in the midlands with 1,000 staff providing education for over 4,000 students at post-primary level and over 11,000 beneficiaries on FET programmes and services.
LOETB manages nine post primary schools and twelve multi-programme FET Centres and is also joint patron of five Community Schools located in Mountmellick, Ballinakill, Mountrath, Birr, and Ferbane. Under the Education & Training Board Act 2013,
LOETB has a responsibility to support the provision, coordination, administration, and assessment of youth work services in its functional area and, through co-operation with other institutions, provide support to a wide variety of programmes and agencies to deliver education and training programmes that cannot be met by mainstream educational services in counties Laois and Offaly.
LOETB has a long history of working in partnership with various statutory, community and voluntary groups.
Management and staff of LOETB are represented on various boards and committees across the two counties of Laois and Offaly. This partnership approach provides opportunities for the various groups and organisations to share information about services and to work together to identify gaps in provision locally and provide additional services where necessary.

Laois Partnership

Laois Partnership Company is the local development company for Co. Laois. It is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity (RCN: 20070045)

Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board are the body charged with providing legal aid in Ireland. They operate the Refugee Legal Service which provides confidential and independent legal services to persons applying for asylum in Ireland. Legal aid can help you if you cannot afford to pay a solicitor privately, by providing legal advice and representation in court.

Local Enterprise Office

The Local Enterprise Offices are your local first-stop shop for seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland. Whether you are a new entrepreneur or an existing small business owner.

The Local Enterprise Office provides advice, information and support to you in starting up or growing your business. With 31 dedicated teams across the Local Authority network in Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices offer you a wide range of experience, skills and services.

Our Role: To Help You Deliver on Your Business Idea

To drive the development of local enterprise, putting local micro and small business at the heart of job creation in Ireland
To drive and support business start-ups and promote a ‘can-do’ business culture.
To increase the job potential of new and existing micro and small businesses.
To increase the number of innovative businesses with potential to export.
To be proactive in response to the needs of our clients.

Longford Community Resources clg

Longford Community Resources clg (LCRL) is the integrated local development partnership company for County Longford. The core purpose of the company is to promote rural development and tackle social exclusion and LCRL does this through various programmes including the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).

This site has been developed to provide you with information on the company and its programmes and to update you on an on-going basis with the latest news and details of our current activities.

Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB)

Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) was established under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013 and is the statutory body responsible for the provision of education, training and youth services in counties Longford and Westmeath. LWETB delivers educational services to over 14,000 learners, apprentices and beneficiaries. The authority employs circa 1000 staff. It has an average annual budget of circa 60 million euro across all its divisions.

The authority has responsibility for: 8 post-primary schools, 3 Adult Guidance Centres, 12 Further Education and Training locations, Music Generation and Youth Services accommodating community groups in approximately 50 locations throughout Longford and Westmeath.

Microstart

microStart provides advice and grants microcredits to (starting) entrepreneurs who do not have access to financing from the conventional banking sector. Step by step manual on how to start your business in Belgium.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Official website to apply for work permit - only Turkish webpage

Offaly Local Development Company

Offaly Local Development Company provide a range of supports to communities within the County to develop innovative solutions as they transition culturally, demographically, economically, environmentally and socially; building resilient and sustainable communities that respond to the challenges and maximise the opportunities.

Open Doors Initiative

The Open Doors Initiative provides opportunities to some of the marginalised members of our society. We create pathways to work through training, education, employment and entrepreneurship.

PXL University college of Applied Sciences and Arts

PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts is a young dynamic and vibrant organisation; a centre of expertise for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
PXL offers professional bachelor programmes in Business, Education, Healthcare, IT, Media&Tourism, Music, Social Work and Technology, and bachelor and master programmes in Arts.
PXL has 5 campuses in Hasselt and Diepenbeek.

Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Interior

Presidency carries out work on developing legislation and administrative capacity in the field of migration and monitor and coordinate the implementation of policies and strategies

Refugee Rights Centre

RRC provides specialized legal information & assistance services to refugees in Turkey. All services are provided free of charge.

Rethink Rebuild Society

COMMUNITY RR provides community assistance and support to improve lives and promote aspirations of Syrian and oth refugees in the UK. Incuding Refugee support and social inclusion; Social gatherings; monthly seminars and movie screenings. ADVOCACY RR strives to raise awareness on issues related to refugees and human rights in the Syrian context through work on policy and media. RR serves as a critical source of information on the Syrian conflict, with particular focus on public discourse surrounding Syria and Syrian refugees.

Roscommon Leader Partnership

Roscommon LEADER Partnership delivers a range of programmes on behalf of local and national government that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for disadvantaged individuals and communities in County Roscommon.

See our case studies which showcase the impact of our work with individuals, businesses and communities.

Spirasi

Spirasi provides support to survivors of torture who are asylum seekers, refugees, or other disadvantaged migrant groups. Spirasi provide medical diagnoses and therapeutic rehabilitation programs, support with navigating Ireland’s legal system and educational classes aimed at helping clients’ integration into Irish society.

Springboard Courses

Springboard+ is a Government initiative offering free and heavily subsidised courses at certificate, degree, and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. These areas include ICT, engineering, green skills, manufacturing and construction, among many others.

There are 248 courses available for 2024-25, the majority of which are flexible and part-time. Click on “Search Courses” above to view available courses.

Stebo

Stebo offers in the project Azo!:
Info session
Intake
Guidance programme
Internships

TIAFI (Team International Assistance for Integration)

TIAFI is a non-profit grassroot organisation in Izmir. In 2017, TIAFI opened a large community centre in the multicultural and underprivileged Tepecik neighbourhood. They aim to increase the empowerment, self-sufficiency and integration of vulnerable Syrian and Turkish families in Izmir.

TU Dublin

This is an online course, and all support activities will also take place online and is open to those ONLY who have refugee or asylum seeker status.

A new online course on Entrepreneurship for Refugees and Asylum Seekers who wish to start their own business will begin this January. The course is being funded by TU Dublin in partnership with Broadlake. Classes will begin March 13th and will continue each Wednesday for 12 lectures from 11.00 – 13.00.

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)

TUS is a higher education technological university offering courses ranging from Higher Certificate to Ph.D. The university has large business faculties, including tourism, hospitality and culinary courses. Sample courses include Business, International Business, Culinary Arts, Tourism, Events Management.

Thomas More

English Bachelor's Degree International Tourism and Leisure

UNCHR (UN Refugee Agency Türkiye)

General helpline & counselling. ‘Help’ website run by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Here, refugees and asylum-seekers can find information to help them know more about their rights, obligations and the services available to them

VDAB

VDAB, The Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training. VDAB is the employment service of Flanders. They offer also serval courses.