Pardee’s Urban Refuge Program Wins APSIA Award for Community Building
On May 28, 2025, the Pardee School’s Urban Refuge project was announced as the winner of the Inclusion Award for Community Building by the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). This category of the APSIA Annual Awards recognizes initiatives that connect different groups and elevate a sense of community. Launched in 2021, these awards celebrate members of the APSIA society who are pushing the envelope in “the field of professionally-focused international affairs education.”
“This program demonstrates how theoretical knowledge of migration, human security, and humanitarian intervention can be translated into practical, technology-driven solutions.” — An excerpt from the 2025 APSIA Annual Awards announcement commending Urban Refuge.
From one classroom to the world
Urban Refuge began as a classroom project in 2016 by students enrolled in a “Forced Migration Policy Incubator” course taught by Dr. Noora Lori, associate professor of international relations and director of the Middle East – North Africa (MENA) Initiative. Over the years, the project blossomed into a signature Pardee school initiative involving dozens of Pardee students as well as alumni.
Instead of drafting policy memos, students were encouraged to imagine what they could build to support refugees with digital tools. Working remotely with six Syrian and Jordanian peers in Amman, Pardee students designed an app to “put aid on the map” i.e., through a geocoded, user-friendly platform, empowering refugees to locate essential services — education, health care, legal aid, housing, work, and cash assistance. Their project, Urban Refuge (and Daleel in Arabic), culminated in a pitch deck, app blueprint, and a database of over 200 organizations. By 2016, the students raised nearly $18,000 from 181 donors through a BU Crowdfunding campaign.
With pro-bono support from Microsoft software engineers, the first app prototype was developed in Fall 2016. In 2017, BU Hariri Institute for Computing and Computer Engineering provided seed funding for an open-source version, further expanding the project’s reach. That same year, BU Initiative of Cities provided critical research funding through its Early Stage Urban Research Awards, enabling Professor Lori, and students and alumni to conduct research including fieldwork with non-profit organizations alongside the app’s development. This support expanded the Urban Refuge’s network to Istanbul, where the team collaborated with scholars and non-profit partners to better understand urban displacement and aid access across multiple geographies.
Under the leadership of Raina Kadavil (BA IR ’18) who led the project as a CEO for many years, Urban Refuge was transformed into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Raina led the effort to formalize its mission, expand its partnerships, and grow its operational capacity. She continues to extend her support as the President of the Urban Refuge Alumni Advisory Board (which also includes Meaghan Delaney, Sara Lopez Gonzalez, Ellie Hitt, Victoria Kelberer, and Taylor Resteghini), working closely with the student executive team and mentoring newer generations of BU students who carry the project forward.
Carrying the baton forward
In Fall 2024, the program was revitalized in Dr. Lori’s “Forced Migration Policy Incubator” course. Students reimagined Urban Refuge for the Greater Boston area, transforming the app into a web-based platform that connects displaced communities with local services.
Leading this new phase is Daria Kosack (BA IR ’25), who now serves as CEO and works closely with Raina and the Alumni Board to scale Urban Refuge’s impact while deepening interdisciplinary collaboration across BU. For Daria, what makes the initiative special is that students continue to be associated with the initiative long after they have graduated, demonstrating the strong belief and commitment toward the migration cause.
“That passion is what drives our mission forward, and I am beyond honored to lead this effort as CEO, ensuring that our work continues to grow, connect disciplines, and create real-world impact for those who need it most,” said Daria.
Last year, the Urban Refuge team participated in BostonHacks, one of the largest hackathon events in the city. The Pardee Executive Board of Urban Refuge including students Emma Galletta (MGP ’24), Seynedhee Avenie (MAIA ’25), Daria Kosack (BA IR ’25), Soumyaa Mathur (BA IR ’25), and Isabella Chaparro Will (BA IR ’26) oversaw the challenge, guiding participating students to develop a platform featuring GIS-based data for real-time mapping, user privacy, and community-driven updates for long-term sustainability.
“It started with no one wanting to join to the five of us being on board,” said Seynedhee Avenie (MAIA ’25), the co-executive lead for the tech team. ”I was inspired and able to inspire others through this class especially as I went from initially wanting to join the business team to deciding to challenge myself to join the tech team and encouraging others to join by sharing my mantra of the semester: ‘I can do hard things!’”
Urban Refuge is currently applying to become an official student organization at BU, expanding across schools and disciplines — from international relations and public health to computer science and communication.
“We are working to integrate across all colleges and schools within Boston University who support our mission, drawing on diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills of our students, by becoming an official student organization,” said Sayuri Kataoka (BA IR ‘25), the business team lead. “Housing ourselves under the Student Activities Office is an exciting next step for us and creates a bigger Urban Refuge community rich with professional development, service learning, and career advancement opportunities.”
With the APSIA honor, the Urban Refuge Program adds another feather to its cap — signifying that social change is rooted in curiosity, collaboration, community, and commitment. The initiative continues to scale greater heights under the leadership of Dr. Lori and with the passion of Pardee students, evolving and innovating consistently to unfetter marginalized communities at home and abroad.
To read the APSIA Annual Awards announcement, click here.