Tiyya Foundation: Making Refugees Feel at Home

When Organizational Management graduate student Meymuna Hussein signed up for a marketing course, she had no idea that she’d be the cofounder and executive director of a new nonprofit, the Tiyya Foundation. What began as a discussion with management faculty member Freddy Nager about successful social entrepreneurship – defining community needs and providing a business model to fill the gap – has blossomed into a brand-new organization.  

Meymuna’s mother, Owliya, had been helping refugees since the late 1990s, when she was sought out for her multi-lingual skills. Her translating work soon turned into much more. Meymuna recalls her mother seeing some of the situations and thinking, “You’re in a new land. You’re dealing with post trauma. Now, you’re in an empty apartment. I’m sure finding furniture is the last thing on your mind.” So Owliya would contact her friends and people at her local mosque to help. “Word spread and as more refugees arrived, my mom was the person that people would call.”

When challenged to identify a social entrepreneurship opportunity for class, Meymuna realized that her mother had already found a need and filled a niche. “She already helps fill that gap, but there are tons of resources that would be available if we were a 501c3 nonprofit,” Meymuna thought, and so she set out to formalize her mother’s work.

That’s how the Tiyya Foundation was born. They began by selling t-shirts to raise the funds needed for nonprofit filing. They hosted mixers and used social networking to get the word out about their efforts. In less than a year, this conversation in an Organizational Management classroom has become an official organization with volunteers and monthly events, reaching out across the many ethnic communities of Southern California.

Although the organization is in its infancy, they are partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and they offer support through local organizations such as the East African Community Center. Their events target a vast array of ethnic communities – the most recent was held at the IRC’s Glendale office in celebration of International Women’s Day. More than 50 refugee women of all backgrounds experienced a day of pampering by Paul Mitchell students, and a great boost of self-confidence.

Tiyya provides refugees from around the world with basic necessities such as beds, refrigerators, and other household items through fundraising, item donation, and a donation exchange program with Micha’s Way in Santa Ana. They also provide basic networking for families to visit other refugees, find mentors, and search for job opportunities.

The next step is applying for grants which would enable Tiyya to provide ESL courses, job training, and workshops on anything from U.S. laws and regulations to community resources. Meymuna mentions a workshop on how to take public transportation “so you’re not afraid to go out the front door.” The government gives each resettlement organization an average of 90 days of support to refugees, but for a family in transition, Meymuna feels this is not adequate time. “Ninety days, to be able to speak English, find a job, get on your feet. It seems insufficient.”