Welcome To WanLainjo
We are committed to promoting equity for underserved communities by providing transformative opportunities in technology, finance, business, and health literacy
Our Vision
Our mission is to guide African immigrants and refugees in their journey towards success, empowerment, and social equity in Minnesota
Our Goal
Our goal is to build better African lives and stronger African communities in Minnesota by empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to thrive.
Our Approach
We strive to make tech resources accessible and easy for all. Our mission is to bridge the gap between technology and those who need it most.
WanLainjo is a leader in networking African immigrants and refugees to information, programs, services and resources that are essential to their survival and wellbeing in the new land. WanLainjo connect and collaborate with cities, county and states programs tailor for new arrivals in Minnesota, and then make them available to new comers especially those from Africa. We also work with other non-profits and business within the African community to help in the settlement of our newly arrived brothers and sisters. WanLainjo has been recognized a few times as the number One information and service provider in the African Immigrant community. With the help of 2 dedicated full-time employees, and 5 committed volunteers, WanLainjo provides services in 4 languages to African communities throughout Minnesota. WanLainjo is dedicated to the economic empowerment and success of African immigrants. Minnesota being home to over one-hundred thousand African immigrants, many of whom face language, cultural, and religious barriers. WanLainjo is actively working to reduce these barriers and create a path for African immigrants to success.
Through workshops, one on one mentorship/coaching and training on Digital and financial literacy, business and career development, WanLainjo provides culturally tailored programs and services to African immigrant communities in Minnesota. WanLainjo is a leader in networking African immigrants and refugees to information, programs, services and resources that are essential to their survival and wellbeing in the new land. WanLainjo connect and collaborate with cities, county and states programs tailor for new arrivals in Minnesota, and then make them available to new comers especially those from Africa. We also work with other non-profits and business within the African community to help in the settlement of our newly arrived brothers and sisters. WanLainjo has been recognized a few times as the number One information and service provider in the African Immigrant community. With the help of 2 dedicated full-time employees, and 5 committed volunteers, WanLainjo provides services in 4 languages to African communities throughout Minnesota. WanLainjo is dedicated to the economic empowerment and success of African immigrants. Minnesota being home to over one-hundred thousand African immigrants, many of whom face language, cultural, and religious barriers. WanLainjo is actively working to reduce these barriers and create a path for African immigrants to success
As of 2021, Minnesota's African population was over 133,000 people, which is a more than 89% increase from 2010. This makes Africa the second largest source of new immigrants to the state, after Asia. The largest group of African immigrants in Minnesota are from Eastern Africa, particularly Somalia and Ethiopia. Other African countries with large populations in Minnesota include Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria and Cameroon. Being push out of their various countries either by war, tribalism, marginalization, lack of employment or business opportunities, most Africans will sell all their belongings and venture for greener pastures and a better life in America. In 2016 WanLainjo was founded by Keafon Lainjo who migrated from Africa himself. “It was very challenging for me when I arrived America, even with family support I still found it very difficult to navigate the system, with no body to mentor me on career, business and finance I made so many mistakes as well as learnt a lot from those mistakes. I decided that once I was stable I will put a program for those who were to follow suite not to fall in the same trap and make the same mistake I made”. WanLainjo was born in 2016 to guide African immigrants and refugees’ transition into the new land with less ease and less stress. In the Twin Cities metro area, the African population increased by 76.5% from 2010 to 2021, reaching 108,263 people. This makes the Twin Cities one of the U.S. cities with the largest sub-Saharan African immigrant populations, along with New York, Washington, DC, Dallas, and Atlanta. Located in Brooklyn Park our programs and services couldn’t have come at the right time
