For many young migrants and refugees, the journey into education, training, or employment is shaped by more than ambition alone.

Language barriers, unfamiliar systems, low confidence, and limited professional networks can make even the first step feel out of reach. Youth Act: Skills for Employment and Empowerment was created to help change that.

With support from Heathrow Community Trust, this project works with young migrants and refugees across West London, offering practical guidance, personal encouragement, and a supportive space to grow. Our focus is simple: to help young people build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to move forward.

Over the year, we will deliver a programme of hybrid employability workshops, covering CV writing, interview preparation, digital skills, communication, and understanding the UK workplace. Alongside these sessions, participants will be able to access one-to-one mentoring, providing tailored support for job applications, training pathways, and personal goals.

We will also run wellbeing and resilience sessions to reduce isolation, strengthen self-belief, and support young people’s emotional wellbeing, as well as a community networking event that brings young people together with mentors, volunteers, and professionals. The programme is designed to be flexible and accessible, with online participation available for those unable to attend in person.

In this first year, we aim to reach 95 young people, provide up to 200 hours of mentoring, and create meaningful opportunities for progression, confidence-building, and connection. We hope participants will leave not only better prepared for work or study, but also feeling more supported, more hopeful, and more connected to their communities.

At the heart of this work is a belief that young people should not have to navigate these barriers alone. With the right support, they can thrive, contribute, and shape a more inclusive future for the communities around them.

With thanks to our funder: Heathrow Community Trust

📌 For more information, contact us:

📝 Please register here (Fill in this form to join the next workshop or receive one-to-one support)

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#TeachHerTomorrow is a global call to support Arezo, empowering Afghan girls with virtual education, mentorship, and leadership led by women. In defiance of the Taliban’s draconian ban on education for Afghan girls and women, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) ignited Arezo (Hope) a visionary initiative that merges virtual learning with global activism. Bridging crises of opportunity and injustice, Arezo pairs Afghan female educators with determined students through online literacy classes and mentorship, offering both education to the excluded and employment to the displaced. Launched in early 2025, the program has already empowered over 60 students, with enrollment steadily increasing as more girls join the movement.

Delivered in Dari and Pashto, Arezo’s virtual classrooms provide structured literacy lessons while ensuring fair wages for teachers many of whom now find purpose and stability after being barred from their professions. Beyond textbooks, the initiative fosters resilience through a dynamic mentorship program where poetry, language exchange, and storytelling become tools for self-expression and confidence. Students, despite facing stark challenges spotty internet access, familial pressures, or balancing childcare with studies demonstrate extraordinary commitment. Teachers note their enthusiasm, with weekly assessments sparking healthy competition and growth.

To amplify its reach, Arezo champions a parallel advocacy campaign, #TeachHerTomorrow , harnessing storytelling, infographics, and live webinars to rally global support. The call resonates with policymakers, educators, and NGOs, urging action to uphold Afghan girls’ right to learn. Donations fund critical resources: teacher salaries, internet stipends, and learning materials, while monthly reports track progress through attendance, academic performance, and heartfelt student feedback ensuring accountability and adaptability.

Rooted in authenticity, Arezo is steered by leaders whose expertise in law, education, and human rights informs every decision. This community-led model not only challenges systemic oppression but also redefines protest through progress. It is a lifeline a testament to courage in darkness, nurturing dreams where doors have been slammed shut. Arezo stands as more than an educational project; it is a global movement.

Please click the link down below to donate:

https://hrsolidarity.enthuse.com/pf/maryam-habib