Case Study: Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA)
Overview
In partnership with AI For All, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) is launching a 12-month Digital Empowerment Programme at its Feltham Centre—located in one of London’s most deprived areas, home to a large refugee and migrant population.
Founded by former refugee Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi, ACAA has spent over two decades supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. With a national presence and deep community roots, it is now the largest Afghan diaspora-led charity in the UK, serving over 9,500 people annually.
The Challenge: Digital Exclusion and AI Inaccessibility
For many newly arrived individuals, digital exclusion is not just a technical issue—it’s a barrier to safety, education, employment, and civic participation. Refugees and migrants often lack the tools, training, and confidence to navigate the digital world, let alone understand or influence the growing role of AI in systems that affect their lives, including immigration, employment, and public services.
The Solution: A Tailored, Culturally Sensitive Approach
With funding and mentorship from AI For All, ACAA will deliver a two-part project focused on building digital skills, AI awareness, and community voice:
1. Digital Skills & AI Workshops
Twelve in-person workshops over the year will build participants' confidence in:
Digital rights, online safety, and AI literacy
Practical tools like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
Creating digital CVs and navigating online job platforms
Emotional intelligence and etiquette in online spaces
These sessions will be interactive and peer-led, ensuring accessibility regardless of participants’ prior experience.
2. Community Panel & Focus Group on AI and Migration
In collaboration with Royal Holloway University, ACAA will host a networking and discussion event exploring:
How AI is used in the asylum process (e.g., risk scoring, surveillance, case allocation)
The lived experiences of migrants navigating these systems
Community-led insights and concerns about bias, access, and ethical design
These insights will be shared with policymakers, academics, and partner organisations, ensuring refugee voices shape national conversations about AI’s role in public systems.
Why This Matters
This project sits at the intersection of inclusion, empowerment, and technology. By equipping underrepresented communities with the skills and understanding to engage with AI and digital systems, ACAA is not only building resilience—it’s creating pathways to voice, influence, and opportunity.
At the same time, by fostering collaborations with universities and thought leaders, this work ensures that the perspectives of refugees and migrants are considered in the design and deployment of AI tools affecting their lives.