World Refugee Day: How our programmes enable refugees and host communities to thrive together

June 18, 2020

This World Refugee Day, we are looking at a different world, one that is grappling with the COVID-19 crisis. Life as many of us knew it seemed to change overnight.

For a refugee who has been forced to flee home because of conflict or violence, living with fear and uncertainty is nothing new. Many have had to leave loved ones behind to start a new life in an unfamiliar place.

“I only took my wife and two children with me when I fled my home country. I left everything behind. I had to start from scratch to improve my family’s living conditions, but it was not easy,” says Muhizi Kayonde Pierre. The Congolese father of four is now living in Rwanda, growing and selling corn to support his family.

Muhizi is part of an agricultural project promoting inclusion in the Misizi marshland of Rwanda, set up by the IKEA Foundation, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and partners. The project gives over 1,400 Rwandan and Congolese farmers the ability to work and improve their family’s incomes.

The ties between local people and those who have arrived more recently are clear–across fields full of ripened corn, they are working together, all contributing to create a more prosperous community.

@UNHCR in Rwanda. IKEA Foundation supports food security project for refugees and Rwanda farmers

Muhizi is a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo, taking part in the Misizi Marshland project. Bringing together more than 1000 growers who were both Rwandans and refugees, this 2019 project in Misizi marshalnd aimed to enhance livelihoods and peaceful coexistence between refugees and local communities. Refugees together with Rwandan farmers built their skills and contributed to the local economy while becoming self-reliant and contributing towards local development goals. This project was funded by IKEA Foundation and implemented jointly with UNHCR, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Government of Rwanda (MINEMA) and local authorities.

Improving incomes and self-reliance

The IKEA Foundation has committed €100 million in grants over the next five years for programmes that help both refugees and people in their host communities improve their incomes and become more self-reliant. The Misizi marshland project with UNHCR is one of those programmes.

Another is the BILLY project, run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Nairobi. The BILLY project helps refugees and young Kenyans living in Nairobi’s informal settlements to earn a better income through a flexible training and employment programme, tailored to each individual’s needs.

By offering business-skills training, start-up grants, apprenticeships, and connections to local employers, the IRC is helping vulnerable people improve their chances for a better future.

“When I got help from IRC, my life changed greatly,” says Eve Kasyoki, who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and now supports her three children and husband in Nairobi.

Eve Kasyoki, who fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo and now supports her three children and husband in Nairobi, Kenya

Supporting the local community

Eve started her own business making and selling clothing, thanks to business training and a start-up grant from the IRC. Not only is she earning money from her business, but she is also using her skills to do good in her community and to help others improve their incomes.

“During this pandemic, I noticed business was running low,” she says. “To ensure that my business continued to thrive, I started to sew face masks.

“I also supply face masks to people who sell them outside this neighbourhood. For example, there are Kenyans who have been affected by the pandemic because many of them have lost their jobs, or their businesses are doing poorly. When I started to sell masks, I supplied them with some. They sell them and they pay me afterwards. That is how I have managed my business.”

Hopes for a better future

“I have great hopes for my business,” Eve says. “First, I want to buy a nice new sewing machine. Then, I want to expand. I would even like to open a school to train people to sew. I find that many refugees as well as Kenyans wish they had a job, but they do not have the skillset required. I want to employ people who can help to run the business.”

This year, as we honour refugees like Muhizi and Eve, the sacrifices they have made for their families, and the solidarity and inclusion shown by their host communities, we do so in a world where the value of each and every person has never been clearer.

Investing in the needs and building the resilience of local community organisations is one of the most effective ways to help families respond to and recover from problems they face, irrespective of their origin.

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/
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International Rescue Committee
https://www.rescue.org/
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Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations
https://www.fao.org/home/en
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What can change when agriculture and energy are planned together? 🌱🌍 Food systems depend on more than crops and climate — they’re shaped by people, supporting services, and the systems around them. Written last year, this article brings together insights from work and partnerships across Eastern Africa, co-written by Judith Jacobs from #SNV, and our co-workers, Ahmed Sameh and Nico Janssen. Today, nearly 20% of the world’s energy use goes into food systems, yet many farmers still lack the power, infrastructure, and services they need to adapt and thrive. These five reasons explain why bringing regenerative agriculture and renewable energy together can help make food production — and rural livelihoods — more resilient. 🔗 Read the full article, link in bio. The Power for Food Partnership works across Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda to bring these connections into practice — linking renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and cross-sector collaboration to support farmers and build more resilient, sustainable food systems. #IKEAfoundation #PowerForFoodPartnership #RegenerativeAgriculture #RenewableEnergy
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Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
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Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
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•
Follow
Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
3 weeks ago
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In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
@ikea_foundation
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•
Follow
In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
4 weeks ago
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This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
2 months ago
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