Initiatives of Change UK-Refugees as Re-Builders™

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Refugees as Re-Builders™ (RRB™) is dedicated to empowering refugees and displaced persons with the knowledge, resources, skills and support they need to drive positive change in their communities and address the issues that matter most to them.

An ILM Assured capacity-building training programme, we provide innovative, meaningful, and relevant learning opportunities for settled refugees. The RRB™ programme covers the skills, knowledge, and practices required to initiate dialogue for social cohesion, create sustainable livelihoods for resilience, and apply ethical leadership for just governance. The course is designed to strengthen the capability and expertise participants already possess as rebuilders, providing them with the resources and practical tools needed to potentially develop and facilitate workshops and initiatives within their diaspora communities and countries of origin.

Ethical and values-based principles underpin the course, allowing people of different backgrounds to build trust across the divides of ethnicity, class, and religion and develop values-based leadership.

Programme Manager: Dr Muna Ismail

Dr Muna Ismail

Muna is the Programme Manager and team leader for Refugees as Rebuilders™
She is a Phytochemist by training and an environmentalist interested in the ecosystem restoration of degraded arid land for sustainable livelihood regeneration. A former refugee herself, Muna’s vision has been guiding the development of the RRB training programme since 2016. Within the RRB training, she is also one of the trainers for Sustainable Livelihood Module.

Contact: rrb@iofc.org

What Makes RRB™ Unique?

There are three critical components that make Refugees as Re-Builders™ so special:

ILM Assured Training Programme: We prioritise learning above all else. The ILM Assured standard validates the quality of the RRB™ training programme by providing a dynamic learning experience that adapts to real-time needs, ensuring that participants gain practical skills and insights to drive meaningful change.

A Supportive Ecosystem: We have created a nurturing environment designed to address the disparities refugees often face. RRB™ fosters a community-led approach to change that is equitable, impactful, and sustainable, enabling settled refugees to lead and influence transformative projects. Participants will benefit not only from practical training but also from valuable networking opportunities with like-minded individuals and organisations. This collaborative environment will help refine participants’ project ideas and enhance cross-collaboration between individuals, communities, and organisations.

Empowering Through Connections: We will help connect and sign-post you with relevant organisations to help you with your future rebuilding projects!

Course Structure

The Refugees as Re-Builders™ training programme has three stages: Foundation– Introducing Skills, Intermediate– Developing Skills, and Advanced– Applying Skills, which run over the course of 10 weeks. During this time, participants will identify factors that affect livelihoods and learn to design and implement solutions to contribute to the rebuilding of their countries of origin.

The course covers three interconnected modules which are fundamental to nation-building:

Dialogue for Social Cohesion: Helping people learn how to listen to understand, ask meaningful questions, and engage in meaningful and constructive dialogue to move forward.
Ethical Leadership for Just Governance: Defining their inner leadership styles and values to be a role model for their community, as well as creating healthy business and administration environments.
Sustainable Livelihood for Resilience: Opening minds to potential routes to economic and environmental sustainability.

The course is interactive and progressive, ultimately creating a dynamic Community of Practice which serves to sustain, support, and motivate existing graduates, as well as to inform and encourage future applicants.

Please note the following:

Since its publication (July 2022) Refugees as Re-Builders™ has achieved ILM Assured status (June 2023). Throughout the document in line with ILM guidance the terminology ‘Stage’ replaces ‘Level’. For example, Foundation Level becomes Foundation Stage.

Download the Refugees as Re-Builders™ Abridged Curriculum.

ILM Assured Curriculum

We are happy to announce that our Refugees as Re-Builders™ curriculum has been approved as an ILM Assured course, which is part of City & Guilds. ILM is a globally recognized brand and a leader in supervisory and management skills development. The ILM Assured standard validates the quality of the RRB™ training programme, which has been benchmarked through a rigorous model wherein RRB™ has met the competency criteria under each benchmark component.

ILM Assured approval confirms that our RRB™ curriculum has world-class systems and processes in place to design, deliver, and maintain leadership and management programmes. Going forward, all those who complete the curriculum will receive digital credentials and a certificate, recognising their online portfolio of growing skills.

With the ILM Assured status of our course, we are confident that our participants will be fully prepared to deliver and manage successful rebuilding projects upon completion. That’s why we are committed to supporting our learners every step of the way, including their project’s initial launch and securing necessary funding.

RRB™ Greeting Cards

Discover a heartfelt collection of greeting cards, displaying artwork crafted by our talented Alumni from our Refugees as Re-Builders™ programme for our 2024 art workshop in partnership with Community Arts Box. Every purchase of these greeting cards contributes to supporting the Refugees as Re-Builders™, ensuring that their programmes and initiatives continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of refugees.

Purchase your cards from our shop!