Globally connected
Building Bridges, Empowering Communities
Globally Connected is a network that supports refugees, migrants, and communities of Arab descent across Europe. We bring people together across borders to exchange experiences, build meaningful relationships, and strengthen their role in shaping inclusive and equitable societies.
We foster integration, amplify voices, and create spaces where knowledge, culture, and stories cross boundaries, shaping a more inclusive and connected future.
Who we are
Globally Connected is a refugee-led foundation and network that supports refugees, immigrants, and communities from Arab backgrounds across Europe. We aim to build trust and understanding between these communities and their host societies while nurturing strong connections with their countries of origin.
Founded in 2015, focusing on Syrians in the diaspora and inside Syria, we have expanded our work to include diverse Arab-background communities across Europe.
We do this through capacity-building, training, networking, accompaniment, and supporting grassroots initiatives and community-led projects that promote inclusion, cooperation, and shared growth.
Our values
Valuing diversity in culture, ethnicity, religion, and gender
Networking to promote social inclusion through joint initiatives
Respect and connection between different cultures and communities
Commitment to social justice and equal participation for all
Our tools
- Facilitations and mediation
- Action research
- Global cafes and dialogues
- Capacity building
- Support community-based initiatives
What we do
At Globally Connected, we apply the Building Bridges methodology across all our dialogue sessions, workshops, and initiatives. This approach brings together individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds to explore key social issues and co-create solutions. Our methodology is implemented through five interconnected areas of work:
Foster Collaboration
We create safe, inclusive spaces for people from all backgrounds to interact, build trust, and collaborate. Through facilitated dialogue and cross-border networking, participants strengthen their relationships and deepen their understanding of each other. These spaces connect grassroots actors with wider European networks, bringing community perspectives into broader conversations and policymaking processes.
Identify Critical Issues and Challenges
Through guided discussions and interactive activities, we support participants in identifying the pressing issues and challenges faced by refugee, migrant, and diaspora communities across Europe. These insights form the basis for our community-based research and are reflected in our publications and media outputs—including policy papers and advocacy materials co-created with community members.
Promote Knowledge Sharing
Our sessions are platforms for sharing knowledge, lived experiences, and promising practices. We highlight success stories and case studies that foster intercultural understanding and inspire others to act similarly. These insights are captured and amplified through social media, reports, and community-driven documentation.
Encourage Individual and Collective Social Action
We support participants in turning ideas into action through small-scale grants that fund local initiatives. These community-led projects focus on active citizenship, peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and countering hate speech—empowering individuals and groups to lead positive change in their communities.
Strengthen Capacity
To sustain and scale these efforts, we offer tailored capacity-building support. This includes joint learning sessions, workshops, and technical guidance. Members receive accompaniment throughout their initiatives, with opportunities to strengthen their skills in advocacy, fundraising, and partnership building all aligned with the values of European citizenship and democracy.
Our projects
Active voices
As part of the joint project cooperation between Globally connected and International Alert A number of people 13 participants coming from different Eu states (Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark)
Building and bounding
Globally Connected joined a joint program supported by GIZ in 2018 in phase one and continuing the program through its phase 2 and recently phase 3