25 Million Sparks
The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs

The story of three courageous Syrian women entrepreneurs uplifting the Za'atari refugee camp, and of the global refugee entrepreneurship phenomenon they represent.

Andrew Leon Hanna (Author)

9781009181495, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 May 2022

232 pages
20.5 x 13.6 x 1.6 cm, 0.34 kg

'It takes a lot to kill off entrepreneurial drive. Andrew Leon Hanna finds that it thrives in the most challenging of environments in refugee communities. His original telling of the stories of three Syrian women is interspersed with a wider analysis of the sheer scale of the global refugee problem.' Andrew Hill, Best Business Books of 2022, Financial Times

25 Million Sparks takes readers inside the Za'atari refugee camp to follow the stories of three courageous Syrian women entrepreneurs: Yasmina, a wedding shop and salon owner creating moments of celebration; Malak, a young artist infusing color and beauty throughout the camp; and Asma, a social entrepreneur leading a storytelling initiative to enrich children's lives. Anchored by these three inspiring stories, as well as accompanying artwork and poetry by Malak and Asma, the narrative expands beyond Za'atari to explore the broader refugee entrepreneurship phenomenon in more than twenty camps and cities across the globe. What emerges is a tale of power, determination, and dignity – of igniting the brightest sparks of joy, even when the rest of the world sees only the darkness. A significant portion of the proceeds from this book are being contributed to support refugee entrepreneurs and general refugee causes in Za'atari and around the world.

1. Angels of Za'atari
Part I. Darkness: 2. Olive trees
3. Gray walls
4. Global crisis
Part II. Spark: 5. New beginnings
6. Khatwa, Khatwa
7. Balloons
8. Extreme entrepreneurs
Part III. Revival: 9. Midnight blue
10. Dignity
11. Global catalyst
Part IV. Hope: 12. Dreams become one
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: International business [KJK], Entrepreneurship [KJH], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Human rights [JPVH], Refugees & political asylum [JFFD]