Refugee JumpStart Coaching Wins ICF’s First 2024 Global Social Impact Award!
October 28th, 2024 – Athens, Greece – The International Coaching Federation (ICF) has honored Refugee JumpStart Coaching (RJS) with its inaugural Global Social Impact Award at its annual awards celebration. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate outstanding contributions to society through coaching and RJS stood out for its innovative approach to empowering refugees.
Founded in 2021 by a Syrian refugee and a Leadership Coach, RJS is dedicated to reigniting the careers of skilled, English-speaking recognized refugees, enhancing their well-being, and strengthening their employability. With a global network of 60+ pro bono professional coaches and mentors, RJS has provided over 830 hours of transformative coaching to more than 160 refugees from 16 countries, developing unique methodologies to help refugees overcome barriers, and thrive in their host communities.
As one of RJS’s clients noted: "The coaching sessions left me with a feeling that I can do more than I ever thought I could. It helped me rediscover myself and the power of searching for answers within me."
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the ICF,” said Beverly Weise, Co-founder and Executive Director of RJS. “This award highlights the impact coaching can have on vulnerable refugee communities, and we hope that our impact will be a model for policy makers and others concerned with helping refugees integrate socially and economically into their host communities. Weise continued: “This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our passionate coaches, dedicated staff, and generous donors, who have helped support our mission and initiatives.”
In 2023, RJS conducted a yearlong research study in Greece to assess the impact of coaching on refugee well-being and employability. The study proved that refugees who received coaching experienced significant improvements in their well-being, which is a vital foundation for finding employment and integrating successfully into their new environments.
Looking Ahead:
“As we move forward, we plan to continue refining our methodologies to create lasting impacts on refugee well-being and employability, expand our coaching services to reach more refugees, empower entrepreneurial-minded refugees to start their own businesses, and create learning opportunities for refugees to thrive in the workplace and in their communities,” stated Hussein Alzribi,Co-Founder of RJS.