HomeGirls supporting refugee women to achieve financial independence

It's a daunting prospect - finishing up your last exam and wondering what next. Will you get that graduate role? Do you have the right skills to do the job? So imagine the massive hurdles faced by refugees trying to secure work. In particular women with young children, who don't know anyone, can't speak the language and often lack basic education. Steph Huang, a current PhD candidate at the Hudson Institute has created a niche solution which brings together designers with refugee women to create fashion items. Her social enterprise HomeGirls has big plans to bring to market a jewellery design collection which impacts in every sense. Since launching through the Generator's Change Maker program in September this year, HomeGirls has run one workshop, secured a design collaboration and will launch their first range in January. While HomeGirls is marketed as a typical fashion brand, is fundamentally driven to give refugee women a sense agency through building their network, developing skills, and ultimately become financially independent. HomeGirls has been selected by The Generator to represent Monash University at the Big Idea’s national competition in November. The Big Idea is run by well known social enterprise The Big Issue with the aim of inspiring university students to solve social challenges in an entrepreneurial way. All the very best to Steph as she pitches her social enterprise HomeGirls at the finals.