The delivery of social value on Invest NI’s Accelerator contract has supported a programme to enable refugees to learn employment skills for the future.
Invest NI supplier Ormeau Labs collaborated with the charity Extern to support their Barista Academy which provides accessible routes to employment for young Afghan and Syrian refugees across Northern Ireland.
Through the Social Value Knowledge Sharing initiative, Ormeau Labs created a welcoming, safe space for their start-up founders to deliver talks on entrepreneurship to the young people. They also facilitated a visit to a coffee shop to enable to the young people to gain hands on experience in a barista environment.
“At Ormeau Labs, we believe entrepreneurship should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance. This collaboration is a powerful example of how social value can be delivered in a practical and meaningful way,” said Claire Halliday from Ormeau Labs.
Razia, one of the participants said of the overall programme which Extern coordinated, “I learned so many things to help me continue education and find a job in future… it has improved my confidence and self-esteem.”