SINA (Social Innovation Academy) is honored to be featured in the book A Modern Guide to Refugee Education – Comparative Perspectives and Innovative Practices by Elgar Modern Guides. Chapter 19. is titled: “The Social Innovation Academy: A Freesponsible Approach to Refugee Empowerment“
The book explores international opportunities and challenges in refugee education, presenting transformative approaches from around the world. Highlighted in the book, SINA’s unique model is recognized for empowering refugees to transform their lives. Rather than being passive recipients of aid, refugees at SINA take control of their personal and professional development, becoming changemakers and even “changemaker-makers” for others facing similar challenges. The book praises SINA’s approach as cost-effective, practical, and deeply transformative—unlocking the inherent potential of refugees and proving that they can lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives.
SINA is proud to be a part of this important publication, which recognizes our commitment to a regenerative, self-organized, and freesponsible approach to refugee education and empowerment.
Unfortunately, the book or chapter are not openly available. Part of it is visible via Google Books and here is part of what the conclusion part reads on page 377:
By shifting the perspective from helplessness to autonomy, refugees take ownership of their personal and professional development. As they accept more responsibility for their choices, refugees gain greater freedom to live out their purposes. SINA simply unlocks their inner potential. Refugees at SINA have proven that this radical approach to education is cost-effective, practical, and productive, ultimately resulting in a meaningful life. Once they realize they can be changemakers, young refugees take the mantle to be “changemaker makers” of others who face similar challenges.
Major institutions like governments, large corporations, and multilateral organizations have yet to embrace this radical form of refugee empowerment. While foreign companies and countries pour billions in aid into nation-states, foreign aid tends to cripple people’s autonomy. SINA stands apart from these aid programs because it emphasizes shifting norms in how we view refugees. By igniting their desires to fulfill their inherent potentials, SINA’s approach centers on basic human characteristics within each of us: our innate desires to grow, to improve, to derive purpose, and to contribute to something larger than ourselves (Sanford, 2017, p. 21). By continually improving scholars and SINA’s culture, everyone develops new capacities, bringing about positive innovation. SINA is effective because it focuses on providing refugees with opportunity, autonomy, a sense of purpose, and a support system for the process (Sanford, 2017, p. 28)—four essential components for fostering transformational, regenerative educational systems.
Sadiki, J., Schmidt S. (2025). The Social Innovation Academy: A Freesponsible Approach to Refugee Empowerment. In M. Schröder & M. Parzer (Eds.), A Modern Guide to Refugee Education: Comparative Perspectives and Innovative Practices (p. 363 ff).