PLACE accelerates and leverages the innovation newcomers bring to Europe
European societies need more and stronger voices with a recent history of migration to bring their perspectives and make their contributions to key economic sectors

We accelerate talent and match it with opportunities for new talent in 4 sectors. Find out what role you can play!

Business

Upskilling for meaningful employment
in a shifting economy

PLACE creates a pipeline that is win-win for both newcomers and the private sector: newcomers master new skills and opportunities to access meaningful work and companies get matched with the diverse talent they seek.

Entrepreneurship

From a choice by default to a self-defined life project, entrepreneurship can be a way to find a place in a new society. 

PLACE offers a pathway to start and test entrepreneurial projects which takes newcomers further on their empowerment journey: successfully integrating a business incubator or starting their own business.

Public
Leadership

We need new voices of influence on the complex challenges our societies are facing. We need newcomer voices in the public sphere.

PLACE runs the first of its kind public leadership incubator, to create capacity and room for new voices on key topics and invent new leadership models. We create the conditions for eye-level interactions for emerging leaders, and provide new talent to established leadership networks for new conversations that need to happen.

Media &
the Arts

Our complex societies need new conversations and forms of dialogue that only new voices can catalyze. 

PLACE develops bold proposals with diverse voices who speak for themselves, to challenge mainstream views of migration, leadership and other conversations wanting to be born.

By unlocking this new talent and matching it with organisations looking for new players in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, public leadership, and media & arts, we are shifting the perspective of migration from a burden to a unique asset for the development and growth of Europe.

PLACE champions migrant-led innovation: since 2016, we offer transformative and innovative learning experiences to newcomers and host societies, while also giving newcomers space for self-determination to find their version of power.

We do this through designing and running programs and events, from our flagship pop-up innovation labs in European capitals to 9-month fellowships online, from public events to retreats, hackathons, training of trainers, exhibitions and more. Our formats are migrant-led, apply next-generation learning methodologies and ed-tech, and involve groups from 10 to 100 people. They all share one aim: create the link in practice between migration and innovation in the sectors concerned.

Facilitation services

Knowing how to facilitate a group and lead collaboration online and offline, is a form of power. PLACE trains past learners of its programs to be Facilitators for online and offline learning, experiences and events. All PLACE events are migrant-led, and we also facilitate external events.

Interested in facilitation services?

Become a coach or an expert

PLACE monitors all learning outcomes through external experts, who assess the participants’ learning journey. We also provide a personal coach to all our participants, to help them to reach their goals.

Interested in being a PLACE expert or coach?

%

of PLACE program participants are refugees or asylum seekers

%

of learners have gained innovation skills exceeding industry standards for the future of work

learners in PLACE programs since 2017

%

of learners receive training-of-trainers and train on average 30 more people through PLACE

PLACE is working towards 5 Sustainable Development Goals

The place team

 

8 nationalities, 4 continents and 14 languages… we come from all walks of life, but here are a few points we have in common:

We care above all about people

We are perfectionists, self-motivated and relentless until we get results

We communicate openly and honestly

We need playfulness and challenges

We breathe through feedback

We put results and the team first

We excel at working across locations and cultures

Sedera Ranaivoarinosy

Communications Manager

Selma Rassoul

Program Manager

Sophie Gholami

Community Animator & Social Media Manager

Karla Tijero

Program Manager

Shawgi Ahmed

Director

Jeannet Mopendza

Admin and Finance Manager

Catherine Raad

Designer & Producer

Michele Caleffi

Co-founder & Head of Design

Ismail Alkhateeb

Operations Manager

Charlotte Hochman

Co-founder & Head of Innovation

Jocelyn Maskrey

Program Manager

Yazen Waked

Co-founder & Talent Expert

PARTNER WITH US

 PLACE gets its strength and impact from the power of community. Our work is heightened by the collaborative efforts of our partners: forward-thinking actors from different sectors and countries, who push the boundaries so new embodiments of power can arise. Together, we’re changing the narrative of migration and transforming it into a vision of innovation. Join us today: work with us to change the game on a sector-level as a strategic partner.

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PLACE
PLACE21 hours ago
Introducing Aftab Darvishi, currently participating in our Emerging Leaders Artivism Alliance program! 🎶

Passionate about transcending musical boundaries, Aftab focuses on various mediums like concert, film, and theater. Her journey began in Tehran in 1987, with early violin lessons leading to exploring other instruments like the Kamancheh and piano.

Graduating with honors in Music Performance from the University of Tehran in 2010, Aftab pursued a Master’s in Film Composition at the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam, delving into Karnatic music. Further studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague followed.

Aftab's compositions have been showcased worldwide, collaborating with renowned ensembles like Kronos Quartet and winning accolades such as the Tenso Young Composers Award. Notable works include commissions for the Kronos Quartet and the premiere of their opera "Turan Dokht" at Holland Festival 2019.

In 2022, her debut album, "A Thousand Butterflies," reflecting on her 11-year journey as a composer, blending various styles and instrumental forces, alongside electronic elements, was released.

Currently, Aftab is pursuing a Ph.D. in composition at the University of Birmingham, while also serving as a guest lecturer at the University of Tehran.

To find out more about her and her incredible work, visit her website: https://aftabdarvishi.com/about-contact/

#ArtivismAlliance #PLACENetwork #NewcomerTalent #PowerOfMusic
PLACE
PLACE1 week ago
🌟 Big thanks to all who joined us for #CatalysTalks at Ecole des Ponts Business School! Special shoutout to our speakers Karam, Caryarit, and Alon! 💬

🎥 Dive into the insightful talks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4frqCyEpFIU

By highlighting the inspiring stories of PLACE Alumni in the context of #entrepreneurship and #business, we find the #resilience and #innovation newcomer talent brings to the world of work. However, we can also see the constraints and barriers they face along the way to achieving their goals.

Don't miss out on the fundamental #brilliance of newcomer contributions in your workplace, support newcomer talent today!

#ThankYouForComing #PLACENetwork #EdPBS #NewcomerTalent #MigrantLedInnovation #FutureofWork #EmbraceDiversity
PLACE
PLACE
PLACE2 weeks ago
Are you a young refugee in Paris who wants to study at Sciences Po this September? Apply before the 31st of March! ⏰

Applications for the 7th edition of the 'Certificat Professional en sciences sociales et humaines pour Jeunes Réfugiés' program are now open. This unique 2-year course allows refugees to study full-time at SciencesPo.

Apply directly here 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdazHZ1ryze2ZGl5SFsHgnOzwLZnddQinEWkVxlGGvL5H-V3A/viewform

Find out more about the course here: https://www.sciencespo.fr/nous-soutenir/fr/nos-projets/defendre-les-libertes-academiques/certificat-professionnel-pour-jeunes-refugies/

#PLACENetwork #SciencesPo #RefugeesWelcome #NewcomerTalent #AdvancedStudies #HigherEducation #ApplicationsOpen
PLACE
PLACE2 weeks ago
🌍✏️ PLACE Recommends: "Dessiner pour résister" by Nada Riyadh
Discover a compelling series spotlighting caricaturists worldwide fighting for women's emancipation and challenging oppression through their art. Each episode delves into the world of these courageous artists who defy hostility, censorship, and threats to make a political impact. Witness their powerful advocacy for women's rights and resistance against oppression.

Don't miss this enlightening series shedding light on their remarkable stories: https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-024864/dessiner-pour-resister/

#Artivism #WomenEmpowerment #Feminism #NewNarratives
PLACE
PLACE3 weeks ago
Happy #InternationalWomensDay from PLACE Network! 🌟💃🎉

All this week we have been spotlighting the incredible contributions that PLACE women bring to the world, as well as highlighting misconceptions about women seeking asylum in France. To celebrate International Women's Day, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the women within the PLACE Community for everything you do. 💪👩‍🔧🌍

#PLACENetwork #NewcomerVoices #UnlockYourPotential #EmpoweringWomen #MigrantWomenLeaders 🚀🌺👩‍💼
PLACE
PLACE
PLACE3 weeks ago
Introducing Irkalla, for #InternationalWomensWeek at PLACE Network. 🙌

Irkalla is a Yazidi performer and visual artist, aiming to spread awareness surrounding #genderbasedviolence. Originally from Iraq, Irkalla was displaced from her region where her community was targeted with #genocide. Since 2017, she has been creating incredibly moving performances that highlight the grievances that she and many other women have experienced.

Currently, Irkalla is exploring the theme of #joy through celebrating the body and immersing herself in traditional dance as a form of expression. You can see more about her performances on her #Instagram @irkalla____.

Irkalla is also a member of the In Ex(ile) Lab by Agency of artists in exile, and in the coming year she will be attending a gathering in Italy. Keep an eye out for more information!

#PLACENetwork #InternationalWomensDay #DomesticViolenceAwareness #WomenEmpowerment #NewcomerTalent #ArtivismAlliance

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