Our Story
In a global setting where political leaders are talking about
building walls, NaTakallam is building bridges.
In the summer of 2014, Aline Sara had just completed her masters in International Affairs at Columbia University and was looking for an affordable way to practice her Arabic—specifically, her native Lebanese regional dialect—from New York City. It was also at that time that Syrians, fleeing the violence from the brutal civil war, were pouring into Lebanon, where today, roughly 1 out of 4 people are Syrian. Like most Syrians outside of the country, and notably the 5 million-plus who are living in neighboring countries, Syrians in Lebanon cannot easily get work permits, making their capacity to work and sustain a livelihood incredibly difficult.
The same daily struggle with varying legal realities holds true for Venezuelans living in Argentina, people from Burundi living in Europe or the Middle East, or Yemenis displaced inside their own country, and millions of other displaced persons around the world.
NaTakallam hires displaced persons & their host community members as online tutors, teachers, translators & cultural exchange partners
Global displacement today
110+ Million
Forced to flee their home
84%
Most live in low & middle income countries
70%
Struggle to access the local workforce
Our Mission
NaTakallam leverages the freelance digital economy to provide income to refugees, displaced persons & their host community members, by hiring them as online tutors, teachers, translators & cultural exchange partners, regardless of their location & status.
More recently, in light of the disproportionate number of refugees in countries that are already struggling from socio-economic perspective, NaTakallam also works with host community members.
As a natural byproduct, NaTakallam builds bridges & changes the narrative around global displacement.
Our impact in numbers & demographics
$3,200,000+
earned by refugees
16,000+
unique users
300+
schools & universities
110+
countries
100+
organisational clients
Meet our team
Our team is based across the world, made of individuals with experience in economic and political development, conflict resolution, human rights, humanitarian affairs, linguistics, technology, finance, design & journalism.
