We recently connected with Ellen Li, Aashi Oswal, & Anvi Saxena and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ellen, Aashi, Anvi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Rallying 4 Refugees was born 2 years ago while volunteering at the Northwest Community Center in Dallas as there was an influx of Afghanistan Refugees. Initially, we were tutoring kids and helping out with basic needs. However upon seeing the immense challenges these refugees faced, we realized our community had the potential to offer much more.
As immigrants ourselves we understood the struggle of integrating into a new culture. Unlike refugees, we had the choice to come here, while they were forced to flee for safety. This inspired us to ease their transition and make them feel welcome.
We knew we were addressing a significant problem. Immigrant families often struggle to see their culture represented and feel truly supported. Our aim was to change that by leveraging community resources to help refugees integrate smoothly.
Our approach focuses on education. We started with tutoring but quickly expanded to financial literacy, career development, menstrual health, and business support. The impact we see in the lives of the individuals we help fuels our commitment. Whether it’s one person or a hundred refugees, making a difference drives us forward.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Ellen, Aashi, and Anvi started at Liberty High School, where they initially bonded over our shared interest in DECA. Despite their different passions —Ellen in computer science and photography, Aashi in international law, economics, and financial literacy, and Anvi in business, technology, and entrepreneurship —their common passion in helping others led them to create Rallying for Refugees.
Starting a nonprofit as high school students, they wanted to make a meaningful impact. Over time, they personalized their efforts to leverage their individual strengths. For instance, Ellen uses her photography skills to help businesses market their products, while Aashi and Anvi held workshops regarding financial literacy and career development. Despite their limited experience compared to others in the field, they’ve achieved significant results, raising over $12,000, serving more than 600 hours, partnering with six organizations, and making numerous community connections.
One thing that sets them apart is their dual approach to helping both online and in person. A notable initiative they launched is the Rise 4 Change Challenge, where they mentored young entrepreneurs to develop projects that support refugees in their communities. These projects range from educating refugees on menstrual health to organizing dance and music classes for refugee children. They also launch various social media campaigns to raise awareness about refugee issues and raise money for families and resources.
Rallying for Refugees primarily addresses the resource inequalities faced by refugee students. As students themselves, they understand challenges students face and believe they can help them the most. Seeing refugee kids excel in various areas, from art to academics, inspires them to continue their work.
“While we initially focused on family resources, we realized there’s substantial support available for families, so we shifted our in-person efforts towards helping students. We still conduct online fundraisers and awareness campaigns to support families, but our hands-on initiatives are geared towards students. We aim to ensure they have the resources and knowledge to succeed in high school and beyond, recognizing the immense potential and talent among refugee students.”
How’d you meet your business partner?
I first met Ellen through DECA, where our shared passion for the program and helping others quickly brought us together. Initially, I was intrigued by Ellen’s unique personality and her love for cats, but as we worked closely, I realized how much we had in common.
Aashi and Ellen had been friends since freshman year, taking classes together like biology. I knew Aashi from our neighborhood, where we had become good friends.
As we all struggled through our freshman year without making it to state, we were determined to succeed in our sophomore year of DECA. Our shared commitment and desire to make a positive impact through our community project allowed us to blend our interests in finance, marketing, management, and helping others.
Working with Ellen and Aashi has been incredibly fulfilling, and I couldn’t imagine a better team to pursue our goals with.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Initially, I, Anvi, managed our social media on my own. Since neither of us co-founders had extensive marketing experience, our posts were quite basic, focusing on events and refugee issues. Recognizing the need for a stronger strategy, we took it upon ourselves to bring in skilled team members who could elevate our social media presence.
Two standout additions were Riya Sharma, our Director of Marketing, and Arizona, our co-Director of Marketing. I had known Riya since freshman year, while we met Arizona at a national BPA conference. Having both on board significantly diversified our content strategy. We now produce a variety of content, including short videos and posts on platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn. Our focus is on creating engaging, easy-to-read content that clearly communicates our mission and the refugee perspective.
For those starting out in social media, my advice is to embrace diverse content and think creatively. Don’t hesitate to seek help—whether from friends or colleagues—to review your content and brainstorm new ideas.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @rallying4refugees: https://www.instagram.com/rallying4refugees?igsh=cHkwM2xqM29lY2c=
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rallying4refugees/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rallyingforrefugees?si=Wmt9YkCutkIOf44H
- Other: tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rallying4refugees?_t=8pfr2bOqSUt&_r=1
Image Credits
Ellen Li