From Refugee Camps to Careers: Online Empowerment

The project is implemented by Paper Airplanes. The project began in January 2014 and is ongoing. Over the years, it has grown from a small grassroots initiative into a structured, refugee-led organization offering multiple virtual education and career training programs to displaced individuals across conflict-affected regions. Paper Airplanes is a refugee-led nonprofit that provides free, virtual education and career training to individuals affected by conflict. Through programs in English, tech, and professional skills, we equip displaced youth with tools to pursue higher education, employment, and leadership. Our learner-centered model combines mentorship, skill-building, and cross-cultural exchange - empowering participants to break barriers, build confidence, and transform their futures from wherever they are.

The project aims to bridge educational and professional gaps for refugees and conflict-affected individuals through free, accessible, and high-quality virtual learning. It seeks to enhance self-reliance by equipping participants with language proficiency, digital literacy, and career readiness. Ultimately, the project empowers displaced youth to pursue higher education, secure employment, and contribute meaningfully to their communities - no matter their location or legal status.

Main activities of the Good Practice

Paper Airplanes delivers free, virtual education and career training to refugees and conflict-affected individuals through three core programs: English, Women in Tech (WiT), and Professional Skills Development (PSD).

Each program follows a structured yet flexible curriculum, led by trained volunteer instructors and mentors. Courses are delivered through one-on-one and small-group sessions, supported by asynchronous materials and project-based learning. Instruction is provided entirely online, enabling access for learners regardless of legal status, geography, or mobility constraints.

The English Program builds academic and professional communication skills across all CEFR levels. Students take formal exams and receive tailored support to prepare for IELTS, TOEFL, and job-related language use.

The Women in Tech Program offers beginner-to-intermediate training in Python programming, web development, UX design, business analytics, and Microsoft tools. Each course concludes with a capstone project that showcases real-world skills.

The PSD Program equips learners with practical career skills—CV writing, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, and digital tools—through weekly mentorship and interactive workshops.

Across all programs, Paper Airplanes integrates trauma-informed pedagogy, cultural humility, and peer mentorship. Ongoing outcome tracking informs program adaptation, and long-term impact is measured through employment, further education, and scholarship achievements.

Additional partnerships—with Microsoft, Humans in the Loop (HITL), and global university clubs—support training delivery, curriculum development, and volunteer mobilization.

This community-driven model creates inclusive, scalable, and sustainable pathways for refugees to rebuild their futures through education, regardless of borders.

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

Several key elements facilitated the implementation of this good practice:

• Virtual Program Delivery: Operating fully online eliminated barriers posed by legal restrictions, mobility issues, or lack of access to local education systems—making learning possible regardless of refugee status or location.
• Refugee-Led Design and Leadership: As a refugee-founded and led initiative, the program is deeply informed by the lived experiences of its beneficiaries, enabling culturally responsive and needs-based programming.
• Volunteer Engagement and University Partnerships: A global network of trained volunteers—including university clubs and professionals—has provided critical instructional and mentorship support at scale.
• Flexible Donor Support: Unrestricted and mission-aligned funding from partners like Karam Foundation and TrueBlue allowed the organization to remain agile and responsive to emerging needs.

Partners involved

• Microsoft: Support through employee volunteerism, technical workshops, and program sponsorship for the Women in Tech initiative.
• Humans in the Loop (HITL): Collaborated on technical training in data annotation and graphic design, enhancing access to digital economy opportunities.
• Karam Foundation: Provided flexible, mission-aligned funding and strategic support to expand access to education for Syrian refugees.
• TrueBlue: Cornerstone donor supporting general operations and educational programming for displaced learners.
• University Clubs and Student Organizations: University-led volunteerism from groups such as the Wesleyan Refugee Project and the World TESOL Academy significantly expanded access to English instruction.
  • Wesleyan University
  • Word TESOL Academy

What challenges were encountered in delivering the project and how were they overcome?

Challenges

One of the key challenges was ensuring sufficient instructional time for students. Nearly 40% of learners across our English and Women in Tech programs expressed a need for more sessions to fully grasp the material. Additionally, maintaining reliable internet connectivity for students in conflict-affected regions like Syria, Gaza, and Afghanistan was a recurring obstacle, limiting their ability to attend virtual lessons consistently. Recruiting enough skilled volunteer mentors for specialized tech courses was also a challenge, especially for topics like Python and Business Analytics.

How they were overcome

To address limited instructional time, we revised program structures to offer extended office hours, more flexible session scheduling, and additional learning resources outside class. For students with unstable internet, we provided recorded sessions, downloadable materials, and asynchronous support. To overcome the shortage of specialized mentors, we deepened partnerships with universities (e.g., Stanford) and corporate partners (e.g., Microsoft), who helped recruit skilled volunteers and refine curriculum content to better support learners.

Results of the Good Practice

• 1,151 conflict-affected individuals accessed free, high-quality education in English, tech, and career skills
• 17 students secured jobs, internships, or scholarships
• Refugee women gained skills in Python, Web Development, and UX Design
• 90% of students reported improved communication confidence
• Alumni launched startups, joined university programs, and became local changemakers
• 88% of volunteers reported personal growth in leadership and empathy

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries

Paper Airplanes eases pressure on host countries by providing virtual education programs that do not rely on host country infrastructure or resources. Refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Ethiopia access high-quality English, tech, and career training remotely, reducing strain on local education systems while improving integration and employment readiness.

Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

Our core mission is to build self-reliance. Through English tutoring, Women in Tech courses, and professional development training, refugees gain practical skills, digital literacy, and confidence. In 2024 alone, participants secured jobs, launched businesses, and enrolled in higher education—becoming less dependent on aid and better prepared for long-term success.

Objective 3: Expand access to third-country solutions

Several program alumni accessed third-country opportunities, including scholarships and academic placements abroad. For example, one graduate began an MSc in Global Health in the UK with a Welcome Trust scholarship. The skills and mentorship gained through our programs help refugees qualify for study visas, fellowships, and international employment.

Objective 4: Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity

Our programs reach displaced individuals still living in their countries of origin—such as Syria, Palestine, and Afghanistan—equipping them with the education and tools to rebuild their futures. By fostering digital skills, career confidence, and global connections, we help lay a foundation for dignified return and reintegration when conditions allow.

Next steps

The programs will continue and expand in 2025. We plan to increase instructional hours, launch quarterly AI/data annotation workshops, and scale our partnerships with universities and tech companies to serve more refugees across MENA, Eastern Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Are there areas in which support would be required to continue and/or scale up your good practice?

• Funding to expand instruction time and student support
• Recruitment of specialized volunteer instructors and mentors
• Translation/localization of tech curriculum into Arabic, Farsi, and Ukrainian
• Technology tools to support asynchronous learning for students in unstable regions