Cities of light

A growing number of cities around the world are embracing refugees. This series looks at how they are helping the displaced to help themselves.

Austria. St. Charles's Church (Karlskirche)

A majority of the world’s 25.9 million refugees live out of camps and in cities and urban areas across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Finding themselves on the frontlines of the global refugee response, an increasing number of cities are choosing to empower refugees and embrace the opportunities they bring.

Reported in cities around the world, these stories look at the steps they are taking to help refugees, and the impact they have of the lives of the forcibly displaced.

Jordan. In April 2018 Syrian refugee Ehab Kahwati establishes his startup company, Drag IoT, in Amman, City of Light.

Syrian refugee finds success and a business partner in Amman

With a long history of hosting refugees, Jordan's capital provided the opportunity Ehab needed to meet his local collaborator Amani and launch their tech start-up.

Indonesia. Fashion guru empowers refugees without legal rights to work or study

Refugees get a chance to start over in style in Jakarta

An Indonesian fashion entrepreneur's project to provide training and empower refugees aims to create new opportunities.

Rwanda. Burundian entrepreneur refugee cooking with gas

Kigali sees economic sense in helping refugee entrepreneurs

Support scheme in Rwandan capital and elsewhere sees refugee businesses including Burundian-owned LPG store create 2,600 new jobs countrywide.

Brazil. Venezuelans Resettle In Sao Paulo

São Paulo helps refugees find their feet in Brazil

The largest city in the Americas not only welcomes refugees and migrants, but also helps them find work and regain their autonomy.

Iraq. Syrian refugee doctor treats patients while living in exile

Erbil reaps rewards by allowing Syrian refugees to flourish

Northern Iraqi city's choice to embrace refugees and keep job markets open has benefited both Syrians and locals alike, local governor says.

Austria. The city of Vienna, with its long, post-war record of welcoming refugees, has risen to the challenge of integrating thousands of newcomers who arrived in 2015

Vienna learns the benefit of giving warm welcome to refugees

Informed by decades of hosting refugees, Austria's capital has enlisted the help of locals and refugees alike in schemes to integrate new arrivals to the city.