Refugee Micro-Entrepreneurship · Malaysia
Talenpac is a training firm specialised in designing and delivering programs for refugees living in Malaysia. Our flagship program is a 5-month micro-entrepreneurship and leadership development program which equips refugees with the tools and resources on how to start or grow a small business.
Our Why
Every individual regardless of their circumstances, background or identity deserves to be able to live a dignified existence. Entrepreneurship can restore a sense of dignity and control to refugees who may have lost their homes, jobs, and communities. It gives them the opportunity to apply their unique skill sets to generate income in a new country.
Refugees often face significant barriers to finding traditional employment due to lack of legal rights, language barriers, lack of recognized credentials, or discrimination. Entrepreneurship offers them a path to economic self-sufficiency, allowing them to create their own livelihoods regardless of their age, education level or family commitments.
Entrepreneurship skills training encompasses a wide range of competencies, such as business planning, marketing and financial management. It also comprises transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, adaptability and creativity which can be applied across various contexts and industries.
Our Approach
Our approach is a weekly in-person program over 5 months designed to equip participants with the essential business skills required to start or grow an existing micro-business. Besides business skills, participants develop self-awareness and leadership skills during the program.
We alternate workshops with personalised coaching and support group sessions to ensure we cater to their unique business and personal needs. Participants who demonstrate they have a viable business model can apply for a small business capital grant to purchase necessary equipment or materials to start their business.
Our workshop modules include Idea Generation, Minimum Viable Product, Bookkeeping, Costing & Pricing, Marketing, Quality & Presentation, Business Planning and Communication Skills.
Our Supporters
Our Impact
100%
running a business by the end of the program
92%
report an increase in business profit at the end of the program
96%
able to contribute to family expenses through their business
RM500
average increase in monthly profit per participant
Besides an increase in household income and creation of self-employment, the program has resulted in an increase in self-confidence and change of mindset for many participants. Those who started a business with their spouse or parent reported an improvement in their relationship as the dynamics of the relationship changed from one of economic dependency to one of an equal partnership.
Most refugee entrepreneurs have started businesses which solve problems faced by their respective communities living in Malaysia.
Businesses our graduates run
Meet our graduates
Programs delivered in partnership
Partnership · 2018
We designed and implemented a micro-enterprise development (MED) program for UNHCR in 2018 for 30 asylum seekers and refugees from the Afghan, Somali, Sudanese and Yemeni communities residing in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This was a 6-month intensive program that combined weekly workshops and coaching sessions to help aspiring entrepreneurs start their businesses. Participants were guided through idea generation, business model development, business validation, go to market strategies, financing strategies and growth strategies.
Partnership · 2020–2023
Yayasan Hasanah is an impact-based foundation striving to create real and lasting positive social and environmental changes for Malaysia. Between 2020 to 2023, we were selected to design and implement micro-entrepreneurship development programs for a total of 140 refugee participants living in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to help them start or scale small businesses which could help increase their household income post the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participant Testimonials
“I feel I am a powerful woman now because I am an independent woman now. And being independent makes a person feel confident. I also feel valued in my family now. I realised even a small business can be profitable. That's the most important change for me.”
“I developed the confidence to speak to customers. I started to see running a business as an alternative to working for someone. Most useful was speaking to customers and finding out what their problems are.”
“I used to sit back and watch others start businesses. But now I have the confidence to start myself. Marketing was useful. I also learnt commitment is very important to start a business.”
“The program helped me think differently. The idea of solving a customer's problem was good. The concept of testing and marketing and emphasis on savings was most useful.”
“I feel independent now. I can look after myself. Nobody needs to give me money. It is my hope my business will be big in the future. I'm not afraid now. Before I dream only. Now I dream and do.”
“This program changed me 100%. I learnt I have to be brave and not give up.”
About Us
We wanted to find a solution to the livelihood challenge faced by refugees living in Malaysia given the lack of legal work rights. We knew education inequality, cultural norms and caregiving responsibilities often put women refugees at a disadvantage when it came to accessing livelihood opportunities.
We ran a pilot program in 2017 to test a micro-entrepreneurship program we had put together to encourage refugees to start a home based business which could generate some income for them. The positive feedback and results encouraged us to tweak and improve our content and this led us to partnerships which has allowed us to reach and impact many more refugees.
Our Team
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Charu is trained as a lawyer but has been working in the field of social impact for more than 15 years. Her collective work experience with Teach for Malaysia, the UN Refugee Agency, Muskaan, and starting her own social enterprise MAD has given her a unique insight into the complexities of poverty alleviation. She has over 300 hours of training & facilitation experience and completed her MBA in Athens in 2020.
charu@talenpac.com
Co-Founder and Advisor
Prior to founding Talenpac, Navin was an Acumen Global Fellow placed as interim COO for a social enterprise in Bhopal, India, working to increase the household income of poor dairy farmers. He has also fundraised and implemented water and sanitation projects that helped over 11,000 people gain access to clean drinking water, and has spoken twice at TEDx.
navin@talenpac.com
Program Manager
Sara is from Afghanistan and started her journey with Talenpac in 2018 as a participant in our first Micro-Enterprise Development program. She started a profitable sandwich business and was recognised as the program's top performer. She joined full-time in October 2021 as a workshop trainer and business coach.