How the DAFI Scholarship program is transforming the lives of these young refugees

For more than three decades the DAFI scholarship program (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative), an education program supported by the UN Refugee Agency, has transformed the lives and futures of more than 26,300 refugees across the world. These scholarships offer refugees the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree and provide hope in building brighter futures.

In 2022, 9,312 refugees from 54 different countries of origin were enrolled in DAFI scholarships. Women accounted for 43 percent of all DAFI scholars, with the program on track to achieving gender parity by 2025. 

Hear from these five scholars and graduates on how the DAFI scholarship program has transformed their lives. 

Claudine

“I thought I had no future because of my status. I am not sure why or where it came from, but I used to compare myself a lot to others and think that I could not make it.”

Claudine, a 26-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), used to struggle with her identity as a refugee. After her family fled their home in North Kivu, in eastern DRC, they relocated to Kiziba refugee camp in Rwanda, where she was born. 

As a refugee and the second of six children, Claudine didn’t think she would ever be able to pursue higher education.

“My family did not have the resources to pay for my advanced level. We had neighbors who had resettled to the United States and decided to support my education.” 

At the age of 16, Claudine moved away from the camp and her family for school. “It was hard. I had to experience new people, a new culture. Some would make fun of my accent. It took me two months to adjust and finally mingle and make friends. Then I was happy!”

Despite excelling at school, she couldn’t afford to continue her education and was forced to return to Kiziba camp, while her Rwandan friends moved on to college. When Claudine learned about the DAFI scholarship, she had little hope and waited until the very last day to submit her application. Despite her doubts, Claudine was accepted. 

“It was unbelievable. I immediately sat down and started crying. Even the following day, I still couldn’t believe it.” She was one of six incoming DAFI scholars from Kiziba refugee camp in 2018. 

Claudine completed her Bachelor’s of Law from the University of Rwanda in November 2023. Now, she is working as a case manager and supporting other refugees at a law firm in Kigali. 

“Today I feel happy, confident and excited. I am doing the thing I love and I am serving my community. I see myself as a human rights activist.”

Yurii

“I was in grade 10 when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020 … In February 2022, the war broke out in my country.”

Yurii, a 19-year-old from Kharkiv, Ukraine, has always dreamt of being a pilot. He is now closer than ever to fulfilling his dream — he is a student of Pilot Studies at the Technical University of Košice in eastern Slovakia. 

When the war broke out in Ukraine, Yurii and his family were forced to move to Balakliya, a city 90 kilometers south of Kharkiv. 

“There was no internet connection or phone reception even. We used a generator to have some power, on and off. I was studying on my phone, with some PDF documents I had uploaded. We were isolated. I would cut some wood for our stove and go for walks to stay healthy.”

Just a few weeks after moving to Balakliya, Yurii’s education was disrupted again when the town was occupied. A few months later, he decided to move to Slovakia on his own. 

“I no longer had anything to lose. That is the reason why I took the risk of coming here alone at the age of 17, even though I did not know anyone and did not know the language. Again, I had nothing to lose. I think that in life, when you try out many opportunities, you always end up achieving something. Let me put it this way: if you knock on five different doors, one will eventually open.”

Once Yurii arrived in Slovakia, he focused on learning Slovak and passing his exams. Although school was going well, he still had to worry about his finances. 

“I looked for any job I could find in order to support myself and pay for my flight school, which is mandatory and costly.” Yurii applied and was accepted into the DAFI program, joining the first cohort in Slovakia. On March 21, 2024, Yurii obtained his private pilot license and is now actively looking for ways to obtain his commercial pilot license.

“Receiving the scholarship meant I could work less and concentrate more on my studies, while spending more time at the flight school. DAFI has really done a lot for me. It has saved me a lot of time. It also provides an important support system. I am often in touch with the other scholars. This plays a big role as well.”

Sharon

“I am so very grateful and excited to have been chosen to be a DAFI scholar. I have no words to express it. Life as a refugee, be it in the camp or here in the city, is so difficult. There is no other support that my family is receiving; all the more reason to be thankful.”

Sharon, a 22-year-old refugee student originally from the DRC, is studying International Relations at Kigali Independent University on a DAFI scholarship. As a refugee, and now mother to a two-year-old son, she’s overcome many challenges to continue her education.

Three months before the national examination marking the end of her secondary education, Sharon gave birth to her son, Smith. She was just 19 years old at the time.

“The father, who was also a senior secondary student at the time, left his school to come and study at home with me. It was so difficult to study with a child, but we tried our best and we passed.”

Despite being selected for the DAFI scholarship, Sharon was worried about how she would be able to take care of Smith while she was at school. Sharon ultimately enrolled at Kigali Independent University on the basis that she could attend evening classes. 

“Otherwise I don’t know how I could have done it with my baby. A friend of mine, also a DAFI scholar who studies social sciences during the day, is the one taking care of Smith in the evening. She is actually a cousin of mine, we grew up together.”

Now, Sharon is one step closer to achieving her dream of graduating from university and building a future for her son and family. 

“Studying at university was a childhood dream of mine. Now I am a mother; I am responsible for my son. I am motivated to study hard and have good grades in order to create some positive impact for him. I will try my best to make sure that he can also receive a good education.”

Paul

“Education is everything for myself and my family. Growing up as a refugee, there is a scarcity of opportunities. Things that people take for granted, you don’t get them so easily. One way to access those things is education. Education is key. Even though my parents did not go to school, they knew the importance of education.”

Paul, a 29-year-old from the DRC, is a doctor based in Kigali, Rwanda. He graduated in 2019 from the University of Rwanda on a DAFI scholarship. Paul’s wife, Gentille, is also a DAFI scholar and a graduate of Computer Science. The two met at a DAFI meeting and are now married with children.

Paul was only one year old when his family fled the DRC and settled in Kiziba refugee camp in Rwanda. In the camp, he was considered one of the best students in his district.

“My parents were always responsible. They said ‘There has got to be a way’ and decided to contribute every penny they could get towards my education. I had potential and everyone could see it.”

With his family’s support, Paul moved away from the camp to attend the Ecole des Sciences de Musanze in Rwanda. Paul was an excellent student and went on to graduate with the second-highest score on the national examination in the entire country. To continue his education, Paul applied for a DAFI scholarship.

“One day, I was at my cousin’s wedding in a nearby town. It was a Sunday, I remember. I received a call and got the news that I was accepted. Oh my god! I immediately jumped on my bike and went home to gather the required documents. The feeling was indescribable to be honest. I could see my life again.”

After several internships in various hospitals and clinics around the country, Paul finally landed a position as a general practitioner at a private clinic in Kigali in May 2022. 

“Refugees can become anything. They are people like any other. Perhaps circumstances made them even better people, in terms of abilities, kindness and potential. The only difference is a matter of opportunities: they are simply less available for refugees.”

Olha

“As a foreigner, I feel like I have to study even more. Coming here, I was full of doubts that I would be able to make it. It is a huge step to make to move to a new country at the age of 17. I had lived all my life with my parents before, so I was a bit nervous for sure.” 

Olha, an 18-year-old from Izmail, in southern Ukraine, is a first-year student of Managerial Mathematics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

While Olha’s hometown was considered safe, having hosted several Ukrainians who were fleeing the conflict, the overall instability in the country made it difficult to continue her education. She decided with her parents to study abroad.

Once she arrived in Bratislava, she worked on improving her Slovak by volunteering for a program that helps young Ukrainians adapt to their new countries of asylum. While Olha considers herself an introvert, the volunteer opportunity gave her the opportunity to speak in public. 

“Volunteering means everything to me. It provides me with positive emotions that are difficult to find anywhere else. I get to meet new people, know their stories and listen to their views. I can help them and they accept my help. Each and every one of us, at some point in their life, will need help. So if you help someone, maybe one day someone will help you when you need it.”

Olha received the news that she was accepted into the DAFI program the day before her 18th birthday. It gave her more motivation to work on herself and on her skills.

“It gave me a huge boost to become a specialist in my field and to keep learning. I used to not believe in my power so much. DAFI proved to me that I can achieve something and gave me the motivation to take action, regardless of the outcome.”

How to Help…

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency supports the full journey of refugees who have been forced to flee violence, war and persecution. Our donors help refugees in their greatest time of need with shelter, food, water and medical care, and their support builds awareness for resettled refugees living in the U.S. With your help, more refugees will have the opportunity to build peaceful lives and give their families a bright future.