Dr Alexander Betts on entrepreneursip amongst refugees

Alexander Betts was quoted in an article for The Independent (17 November) about a project he is leading, funded by the Texan oil millionaires Stephanie and Hunter Hunt, that aims to track and document how refugees in progressively minded countries like Uganda have thrived through their own entrepreneurial drive and spirit, merely by being given the right to work. The Humanitarian Innovation Project, based at Oxford University, will look at how education, microcredit and western-style business incubation schemes can also help refugees in other countries too.

"What people outside don't necessarily recognise is that these are natural survivors, with the kind of drive and ambition that make for fantastic entrepreneurs," Alexander said, "Don't forget, just the ability to escape the conflicts from which they are fleeing takes enormous courage and a willingness to take risks."