Directory of Businesses that Serve Diaspora

1. Financial Services and Remittances

Diaspora populations often send money back to their home countries to support families, invest in businesses, or contribute to community development. Businesses in this sector offer fast, secure, and affordable remittance services to ensure funds reach their intended destinations.

• Western Union: A global leader in remittance services, Western Union enables diaspora members to send money to family and friends in over 200 countries with competitive exchange rates and fast transfers.
• WorldRemit: A digital remittance service that allows users to send money from developed countries to developing regions, offering cash pick-up, mobile money, and bank transfer options.
• TransferWise (now Wise): A fintech company specializing in low-cost international transfers with transparent fees and mid-market exchange rates, making it popular with diaspora entrepreneurs and families.
• Remitly: Offers remittance services tailored to diaspora members, allowing for quick transfers to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with multiple delivery methods such as cash pickup, bank deposit, or mobile wallet.

2. Immigration and Legal Services

Navigating immigration processes, securing visas, and addressing legal concerns are common challenges faced by diaspora communities. Businesses specializing in immigration law and legal services help individuals overcome these obstacles and ensure they are compliant with local regulations.

• Fragomen: A global law firm that provides immigration services to individuals, families, and businesses. Fragomen assists with visa applications, work permits, and legal counsel for expatriates and diaspora communities.
• Immigration Direct: An online platform that helps users complete immigration paperwork for visas, green cards, and citizenship, simplifying the often complicated processes involved in U.S. immigration.
• Boundless: An immigration service platform that offers affordable legal guidance and assistance for individuals and families looking to apply for U.S. visas and green cards, providing personal legal support throughout the process.
• Diaspora Law: Specializes in assisting members of diaspora communities with immigration law, visa applications, asylum claims, and legal matters related to staying in host countries.

3. Education and Language Services

Education is a key factor for success in diaspora communities. Many businesses in this sector offer tutoring, language courses, and academic programs that help immigrants and their children integrate into new societies or maintain connections with their homeland’s educational system.

• Kumon: A global tutoring service that caters to children from diaspora families, helping them improve in math and reading while adjusting to new education systems.
• Rosetta Stone: A leading language learning platform that offers courses in multiple languages, helping diaspora members preserve their native languages or learn new ones for better integration.
• Diaspora Learning Solutions: A company focused on providing online education and professional development courses tailored to the needs of diaspora communities, offering certifications that are recognized globally.
• International Schools Network: A directory of schools that cater to expatriates and diaspora communities, offering international curricula such as IB, Cambridge, and American systems for students living abroad.

4. Shipping and Logistics

Diaspora communities often need to send goods, gifts, and supplies to their home countries, whether for family support or business purposes. Shipping companies that specialize in serving diaspora populations help ensure smooth, reliable logistics between countries.

• DHL Express: A global leader in international shipping, DHL offers fast, reliable shipping services for diaspora members sending packages, goods, or documents to family or businesses back home.
• Aramex: A logistics and transportation company known for serving diaspora communities by offering efficient courier and freight services, especially between the Middle East and Western countries.
• UPS International: Provides global shipping solutions for personal and business needs, making it easy for members of the diaspora to send goods home with dependable tracking and delivery.
• MyUS: Specializes in shipping products purchased in the U.S. to countries where they may not be readily available, a popular service for diaspora members looking to buy and send items to family abroad.

5. Cultural and Media Services

Diaspora communities often seek ways to maintain connections with their cultural roots through media, entertainment, and cultural services. These businesses help preserve traditions, language, and identity for diaspora members.

• DiasporaTV: A media platform that streams television shows, movies, and news from various countries, allowing diaspora communities to stay connected with the culture, language, and current events of their homeland.
• African Movies Network: Offers an extensive library of African films, TV series, and documentaries, serving the African diaspora with culturally relevant entertainment.
• Eros Now: A digital entertainment service that provides access to Bollywood films, South Asian TV shows, and music, catering specifically to the South Asian diaspora.
• Diaspora Arts Network: An organization that promotes artistic and cultural events for diaspora communities, supporting artists and performers in showcasing their work across borders.

6. Travel and Tourism Services

Diaspora members often travel back and forth between their host and home countries. Travel agencies and tourism businesses that specialize in diaspora markets offer tailored services such as affordable flights, visa assistance, and cultural tours.

• Skyscanner: A global travel search engine that allows users to find affordable flights and travel deals, often used by diaspora members traveling home for visits or family emergencies.
• Diaspora Travel Services: A travel agency that focuses on serving diaspora populations by offering affordable flights, travel insurance, and visa processing for those traveling back to their home countries.
• Mawuli Travel: Specializes in cultural and heritage tours to Africa, designed for members of the African diaspora seeking to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
• Ghurka Adventures (South Asian): A travel company that provides tailored pilgrimage tours and cultural experiences in South Asia for diaspora members looking to rediscover their heritage.

7. Health and Wellness Services

Diaspora communities often face specific health and wellness needs, including access to culturally competent healthcare providers, traditional medicine, and wellness services. These businesses offer tailored services to ensure that diaspora populations receive the care and support they need.

• Diaspora Healthcare Network: A service that connects members of the diaspora with healthcare providers who understand their cultural and linguistic needs, ensuring access to quality care.
• TeleHealth for Migrants: An online platform that offers virtual health consultations for diaspora members, providing access to doctors who speak their native language and understand their medical needs.
• Ayurveda Wellness Center (South Asian): Provides traditional Ayurvedic treatments, wellness consultations, and herbal remedies for members of the South Asian diaspora, offering a holistic approach to health.
• Global Health Clinics: A network of clinics that offer specialized healthcare services for expatriates and diaspora communities, including vaccinations, preventive care, and wellness programs.

8. Recruitment and Employment Services

Finding jobs and navigating the labor market in a new country can be a daunting task for diaspora members. Recruitment agencies and employment platforms catering to diaspora populations help them secure meaningful employment and transition smoothly into the workforce.

• Diaspora Jobs Network: A platform that connects diaspora job seekers with employers looking for bilingual, multicultural talent, helping bridge the gap between home and host countries.
• LinkedIn: The global employment platform is widely used by diaspora members to network and find job opportunities in both their host and home countries, as well as showcase their professional skills.
• HireImmigrants: An initiative aimed at helping immigrants and diaspora communities find employment in their host countries by connecting them with employers that value diversity and inclusion.
• Careers in Africa: A recruitment platform dedicated to helping African diaspora members find professional opportunities in Africa, facilitating brain gain and career advancement in their native regions.