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For the first time on record, more than 100 million people globally were forcibly displaced due to war, human rights abuses or persecution in 2022, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

When people are on the move, they often rely on their phones to stay in touch with their loved ones and access the information they need on their journey. Language learning tools like Rosetta Stone can help refugees better navigate their lives in transit and their new lives after resettlement. Spencer Tilger, IRAP

That figure includes refugees and asylum seekers. The war in Ukraine played a sizable role. The UN reported more than 5.2 million refugees from Ukraine are present across Europe and estimated a total of 12.3 million people have been displaced to date.

When people flee violence, poverty, and oppression, technology can help ease their resettlement and the new challenges of displacement. 

Language barriers are among those challenges. The ability to communicate in the local language can connect people in need with legal aid, education, and healthcare and help build trust and essential community connections.

Companies in partnership since 2018

Rosetta Stone and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) recently announced an extension of a partnership that began in 2018. Under the partnership, Rosetta Stone will provide free lifetime subscriptions to the language learning platform for IRAP's global staff and refugee clients. 

"The donated subscriptions will provide lifetime access to all 25 languages on Rosetta Stone to help refugees better navigate the resettlement process, improve communication between IRAP staff and refugees, and help refugees better acclimate to their new homes," Kate Mattison, vice president of curriculum at Rosetta Stone parent company IXL Learning, told ZDNet. "IRAP has been a partner of ours since 2018, and we plan on continuing this partnership to support its global mission."

She added: 

Acquiring basic language skills is also important for refugees' social integration