What is Agora?
Agora is a secure, community-driven mobile platform designed to help refugees overcome social isolation by connecting with others who share their cultural, linguistic, and regional backgrounds. Built in collaboration with refugee support organisations and global experts, Agora is designed to be simple, safe, and scalable — giving refugees the tools they need to create their own meaningful support networks.
At its core, Agora is about belonging: it empowers refugees to take control of their social integration journey by forming or joining localised digital communities, hosting and attending events, and engaging in conversation in their own language, within groups tailored to their identity and experience.
The Problem
Social isolation is one of the most urgent and under-addressed challenges facing refugees today. Refugees often arrive in unfamiliar cities, separated from family and friends, unable to speak the local language, and unsure of how to find others like them.
This isolation can lead to severe mental health challenges — including anxiety, depression, and PTSD — and can slow or even prevent successful integration into new communities.
Our Research Found:
- •Over two-thirds of refugees felt isolated when they first arrived
- •Half felt like outsiders in the UK
- •Many had no idea how to meet others from their country or culture
- •Current services were either unsafe, hard to access, or lacked autonomy
Agora was built to directly address these gaps — with input from refugees themselves.
The Solution
Agora is a mobile app that allows refugees to join or create digital groups with others who share their language, nationality, gender, age, and location. These groups function like small, trusted communities where users can chat, organise meetups, share advice, and build friendships — all within a secure, moderated environment.
Group Discovery
Join or create groups based on shared identity, language, and location. Find your community with hyperlocal filtering.
Secure Chat
End-to-end encrypted messaging in your own language. Connect, plan, and build friendships safely.
Safety First
Peer-to-peer verification, AI moderation, and panic button protection for real-world meetups.
Event Hosting
Propose and attend real-life group meetups. Cultural events, language practice, local walks, and more.
Multilingual
Customized onboarding in your preferred language. Connect with others who speak your language.
Privacy Protected
Minimal data collection. Non-precise location. End-to-end encryption. Your privacy is paramount.
Impact & Vision
Launch Timeline
May 2025
Launch in Slough with Slough Refugee Support
December 2025
National expansion through charity partnerships
Mid-2026
International rollout: Hong Kong, United States
Backed by Experts
- Dina Haynes, Yale Law School
- Adio Dinika, Distributed AI Research Institute
- Vivian Cheung, Equal Justice Hong Kong
- Jean Kelly, Slough Refugee Support
- Uday Khemka, Khemka Foundation & UNHCR Partner
A world where no refugee has to feel alone
Get Involved
Join us in building a world where no refugee has to feel alone. We're always looking for passionate individuals and organizations to partner with.
Click above to send us an email