Homeless Entrepreneurs: Andrew Funk on Empowering Migrants and the Homeless
“Communication is an important aspect. They always say, ‘Homeless people are invisible’. I always say, ‘They aren’t invisible, we are blind’”!— Andrew Funk
At 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 we invite guests to talk with us about migration. On the 31st of May, Project Phoenix’s Michael Goecken welcomed 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗸, founder and president of the organisation Homeless Entrepreneur, to talk about the difficulties homeless people face in their attempts to find meaningful employment or feel included in society, and how similar their situation often is to the experience of many migrants coming to Europe.
Andrew founded and leads a startup called #HomelessEntrepreneur that empowers homeless people by providing them with tools, resources, network, unconditional love, and a holistic programme. #HomelessEntrepreneur is inclusive and fosters economic empowerment to end homelessness for those willing and able to participate. Similar to Project Phoenix, Andrew uses his own networks and those around him to open doors for homeless people, connecting them to mentors and coaches, businesses and job opportunities.
You can learn more about Andrew Funk’s work by visiting homelessentrepreneur.org or his organisation’s Facebook page. You may also like to see his talk at the TEDx Gracia event, to learn more about his success story.
Get Involved:
If you want to be a guest of one of our Phoenix Talks or have ideas and suggestions, please get in touch via contact@project-phoenix.eu. We are looking forward to your contribution.
Project Phoenix is a young European NGO and social enterprise working to empower migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in an urban setting, using the best of a social innovation playbook. Premised on the pillars of sustainability, economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, socio-cultural integration through professional-skills training and mentorship, we leverage our global networks and fill gaps that legacy institutions and international organisations are often unable to. We are limber, agile and use a systems-thinking, non-prescriptive approach to present feasible solutions.
Project Phoenix is currently running a Pilot Project on the ground in Cyprus. Motivated individuals apply to join as fellows to receive assistance through skills training and entrepreneurial support. Fellows contribute to their local community through the establishment of their own social enterprise which allows them to pay it forward. This innovative approach encourages the sustainable empowerment of refugees and migrants and the development of a circular and sustainable economic and social movement on the island.
