Championing Refugees Through English Upskilling

As a Certified B Corporation, EnGen takes our role in helping to create a more inclusive and equitable economy very seriously. We believe that work starts by championing career and economic mobility for immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages, now 1 in 5 workers in the U.S.   

These workers have rich skills and experience to offer U.S. employers, but that potential is often limited by English barriers: The U.S. meets the needs of just 4% of adult English learners. That’s why EnGen is committed to scaling access to our platform to connect with the 1 in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. who is an English learner – and that includes offering free licenses to individuals who aren’t otherwise able to access EnGen through an employer or education provider.

EnGen was proud to sponsor and participate in the One Journey festival in Washington, DC. The entirely volunteer-run festival is an annual celebration of the diversity of culture and experience that refugees bring to our society. 

“When refugees are welcome and given the support to rebuild their lives in the U.S., they don’t just survive – they thrive. One Journey’s mission is to shine a light on refugee contributions and talents and their stories of resilience and hope. Some of our brightest and influential politicians, business leaders, and citizens came to this country as refugees seeking safety,” said Wendy Chan, Co-Founder of One Journey. “Access to high-quality, career-aligned English upskilling is critical to refugee inclusion, which is why One Journey is proud to have partnered with EnGen to celebrate and champion for refugees by bringing EnGen’s state-of-the-art platform to our NGO partners at the festival this year.”

Along with enjoying the rich food, diverse musical and cultural performances, and beautiful real-world stories at the One Journey festival, the EnGen team was thrilled to donate EnGen platform licenses to two local organizations that are committed to opening opportunities to refugees and displaced people: 

Mozaic

Mozaic  provides refugees, women, and children in the larger DC metropolitan area with a stronger sense of community and purpose. The organization will initially use EnGen licenses to provide career-focused English upskilling to participants in its Mozaic Kitchen program, which trains chefs from refugee backgrounds to advance in culinary careers; Mozaic will later offer EnGen licenses to participants in a sewing-focused vocational training program.  

“English upskilling serves as the key to unlocking fresh possibilities, elevating the professional futures of the refugees we serve. By providing learners with vocational language proficiency, we empower them to navigate a world of opportunities with newfound confidence and effectiveness,” said Raghad Bushnaq, founder and executive director of Mozaic. “Together with EnGen,  we can unleash learners’ full potential, fostering not only sufficient income and financial stability but also a profound and positive influence within the communities we serve.”

No One Left Behind

No One Left Behind (NOLB) supports Iraqi and Afghan interpreters and employees who risked their lives by supporting the U.S. government, servicemembers, and diplomats. The organization advocates for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programs that evacuate allies to safety and provide assistance to resettle in the U.S. 

"For newly arrived Afghan and Iraqi interpreters (SIVs), English upskilling is not just a language improvement, but a pathway to empowerment. By improving their English proficiency, SIVs can unlock doors to better job opportunities, access higher education, and confidently integrate seamlessly into their new communities with their valuable skills and experiences, said Josh Emerson, Director of Resettlement of NOLB. "With the help of EnGen, English upskilling will serve as a bridge that connects SIVs to their new communities allowing them to create lasting connections and meaningful relationships."

 We know that providing free access to personalized, career-aligned, on-demand English upskilling will support refugees in rebuilding lives and livelihoods in the U.S. Our survey of more than 6,000 EnGen learners shows that 95% percent improved their English after using the platform; 87% achieved a social or career goal as a result of English upskilling, like a pay raise, promotion, or civic engagement.

Since our launch in 2020, EnGen has supported more than 45,000 learners in improving their English proficiency, connecting with pathways to high-demand careers, and accessing economic mobility. We’re just getting started – and we won’t stop until we’ve served the 13 million adult English learners in the U.S. Learn how EnGen can work for your organization: https://getengen.com/demo