Sophia Danielson
Nationality: USA
Organization Name: Books Unbound
Impact Region: Global (refugee camps and resettlement communities)
About the Social Business: Books Unbound designs culturally sensitive educational resources that cater to displaced communities, bridging gaps in learning for both literate and illiterate learners. The organization creates materials focused on language preservation, trauma support, and community integration, adaptable for use across diverse settings. These resources are designed with a visual-first approach, making them accessible and engaging for those with varying literacy levels. Books Unbound aims to provide culturally relevant tools that not only educate but also maintain cultural identity for communities at risk of losing their heritage.
About the Y&Y Fellow: Sophia Danielson grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, but her nomadic lifestyle took her all over southern Africa. Her journey in education started at just 18 years old, when she moved to Thailand to teach English to Burmese migrants. This experience led her to engage with Rohingya refugees at a nearby shelter, where she realized the disconnect between existing educational resources and the cultural realities of displaced communities. Determined to address this gap, she founded Books Unbound in 2018. With a clear focus on scaling the impact of her work, Danielson is actively refining her products and seeking strategic guidance to expand globally, while continuing to support informal education in some of the world’s most vulnerable contexts. While developing Books Unbound, she also worked as an international consultant for the IOM, the United Nations’ International organization for Migration, and is currently a freelance project manager, specializing in brand re-design and execution.