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Sparking Change

When resettled refugees join their new communities, they have many challenges to overcome and must adapt to new cultures, new languages and new customs. As challenging as these circumstances can be, they also equip resettled refugees to take a leadership role in welcoming new Americans and building bridges between refugees and their new communities.

To support the creative, community-building solutions developed and delivered by refugees in the United States, USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, partnered with Refugee Congress and Welcoming America to create the Sparking Change grant.

Sparking Change Grantees

Meet the inaugural 2023 Sparking Change grantees from Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas and learn more about how their projects will improve integration and inclusion for displaced people in their communities.

Salemu Derick Alimasi

Salemu Derick Alimasi is a resettled refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who now lives in Katy, Texas. His project will be executing an Arts Festival for youth from all backgrounds in his community, including resettled refugees and migrants. His project will also offer workshops, supplies and opportunities for youth to view performances from other artists.

Masouda Basharat

Masouda Basharat was forced to flee her home in Afghanistan at a young age, and now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her experience inspires her to work to empower other refugee women. Her project will bridge cultural gaps, promote financial literacy and enhance digital literacy for Afghan women in Tulsa.

Bahati Kanyamanza

Bahati Kanyamanza is a former refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who now lives in Texas. He will use the Sparking Change grant to empower youth in his community through workshops on communication and leadership, interpersonal and character development, health-related behaviors and more. 

Aisha Koroma

Aisha Koroma is a resettled refugee from Sierra Leone who arrived in the United States when she was 14 years old and currently lives in Houston, Texas. Her project, The Safe Space Project, is an initiative to reduce stigma and address inequality by fostering holistic well-being and mental health awareness.

Sara Louis-Ayo

Sara Louis-Ayo is a resettled refugee from Sudan who now lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sara is using her Sparking Change Grant to foster connection in her community, especially among refugee women. Through her project, refugee women will participate in discussions, lead workshops and host cooking classes to share their cultures.

Niyonsaba Magnifique

Niyonsaba Magnifique was born and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania, but her family is originally from Burundi. Her project is to host the Kerebuka Women Conference, a one-day event featuring panels, discussions and presentations that will empower refugee women to rebuild their livelihoods in the United States.

King Patrick Saah

King Patrick Saah resettled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from Liberia more than 20 years ago. With the support of the Sparking Change grant, he is hosting the first ever Baton Rouge Red Stick Unification Cup. Through sports and play, he hopes participants in the tournament will build connections and break down barriers.

Sateza Safi

Sateza Safi is a recently resettled refugee from Afghanistan and a current student at the University of Tulsa. Through her project, she is building a community network for Afghan students that will foster inclusion, belonging and cross-cultural understanding.

Dauda Sesay

Dauda Sesay is a resettled refugee from Sierra Leone who now lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Using the Sparking Change grant, he is empowering children of African refugees and asylum seekers. He is organizing ACT/SAT/GRE tutorials for students who are pursuing higher education.

Faridar Binti Sirazulsalam

Faridar Binti Sirazulsalam is a former Rohingya refugee who now lives in Houston, Texas. Faridar is using the Sparking Change grant to offer English classes and citizenship exam preparation to refugee families, particularly refugee women.

Eligibility Criteria

This grant seeks applicants who are leaders in their communities and are working to create awareness, understanding and community for people who have experienced forced displacement.

Location: Individuals living in and completing projects in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington (WA) and Wisconsin, and who have personally experienced forced displacement are eligible to apply. We hope to expand geographically in subsequent years.

Individual Focused: At this time, individuals over the age of 18 and groups of fewer than three are eligible to apply. Applications from organizations such as 501(c)3 non-profits or LLC corporations are not eligible. Individuals who work for an organization but are submitting a project unassociated with that organization are eligible.

Eligibility Status: Eligible applicants must have personally experienced forced displacement. Those with lived experience as a refugee, asylum seeker, or were previously an internally displaced person, are/were stateless or arrived in the U.S. through a special immigrant visa or humanitarian parole are encouraged to apply.

Projects: This initiative aims to support community building and integration among those who have experienced forced displacement. Projects that provide direct services (food provisions, clothing drives, etc.) are not eligible at this time. Projects are expected to be completed in 2025. 

We are seeking applications through November 22, 2024. Apply here. 

Please sign up for updates below.

Stories from Sparking Change

2023Sparkingchangegrantees

Refugee leaders selected for Sparking Change project

USA for UNHCR announces our 2025 Sparking Change grantees in partnership with Refugee Congress and Welcoming America.

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Sparking Change grantees inspire youth to pursue friendship, creativity and a brighter future

As part of their Sparking Change projects, these grantees took on the challenge of helping refugee youth excel academically, connect with their community and build self-confidence in navigating their new homes.

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These three Sparking Change grantees are investing in refugee women’s futures

Meet three Sparking Change grantees who are helping refugee women build brighter futures through digital literacy classes, livelihoods workshops, community building and more.

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© USA For Unhcrnicolette Riggin

USA for UNHCR Seeks Applications for the 2025 Sparking Change Grant

USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is seeking applicants for the 2025 Sparking Change grant. The grant is available to community leaders in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington (WA) and Wisconsin who have experienced forced displacement.

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Sparking Change grantees inspire welcoming communities for refugees in the United States

Meet three grantees from USA for UNHCR's Sparking Change program who are helping create safer, more welcoming communities for refugees.

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2023Sparkingchangegrantees

Announcing the 2023 Sparking Change Grantees

Meet the 2023 Sparking Change grantees and learn more about how their projects will improve integration and inclusion for displaced people in their communities.

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