We are incredibly proud of how far Urban Refuge has come and are excited for where we will go. What started as an idea in the Forced Migration Policy Incubator course led by Professor Noora Lori, has grown into a full fledged student-led initiative. We began as a mobile app launched in cities such as Amman (2017), Istanbul (2018), and San Jose (2019). 

Our launch in Amman (2016) required students to collaborate remotely with Syrian and Jordanian peers to design an app that would “put aid on the map.” They were able to create a database of 200+ organizations that developed the first prototype with pro-bono support from Microsoft Engineers. In 2018, with support from BU's Hariri Institute and partners like the Turkish humanitarian mapping group Yer Çizenler, Urban Refuge was able to expand our initiative to Istanbul. Together, we mapped over 20,000 buildings and 13,000 service points across districts, engaging refugees directly in the mapping process. And in 2019, Urban Refuge launched in San Jose, with its U.S pilot app, supporting refugee and immigrant communities navigating local resources. 

However, due to Covid-19 our efforts were halted and we were forced to regroup. In the fall of 2024, Urban Refuge was able to relaunch with a new focus on Boston and the Greater area all while building the first website prototype at the Boston Hacks Hackathon. Every milestone we have hit has been powered by our team's collaboration, creativity, and determination. Since our relaunch, Urban Refuge has expanded our goals to empower women in tech and has built relations with local organizations to ensure we can meet community needs. All our progress was recognized with the 2025 APSIA award for community building. Support Urban Refuge and help us make an even bigger impact