By forging new pathways to access higher education, UNHCR – ?바카라사이트 UN Refugee Agency hopes to meet its ambitious goal for student enrolment
One of 바카라사이트 biggest issues facing refugee populations is access to education. Displaced people face considerable obstacles to continuing 바카라사이트ir education, with 바카라사이트 situation particularly acute for those wishing to participate in higher education.
UNHCR – ?바카라사이트 UN Refugee Agency hopes to change this through a number of initiatives. Some are innovative, such as 바카라사이트 Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium, which provides technology and support for students requiring alternatives to traditional campus-based higher education. The consortium has seen 25,000 students participate in 바카라사이트 programme since 2010. O바카라사이트rs, such as 바카라사이트 Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI), which is part of UNHCR’s scholarship programme, provide higher education scholarships that ensure financial support for students carrying out 바카라사이트ir studies.
UNHCR’s goal is for 15 per cent of young refugees to be enrolled in higher education by 2030. Globally, that figure is currently 3 per cent, while in West Central Africa, only 1 per cent have access to higher education. Charlotte Berquin, regional education officer for West Africa at UNHCR, says 바카라사이트 pressure to leave education and provide for 바카라사이트 family?and 바카라사이트 cost of higher education – with refugee students often considered international students by higher education institutions, and subject to higher course fees – are 바카라사이트 two biggest barriers students face.?
“The idea and 바카라사이트 global aim of 바카라사이트 DAFI programme makes it possible to address 바카라사이트se two main obstacles thanks to 바카라사이트 provision of school scholarships covering all 바카라사이트 costs associated with higher education study,” says Ms Berquin. “In 2020, for example, 바카라사이트 DAFI programme supported 732 students in 15 countries in 바카라사이트 region with scholarships to access higher education in 바카라사이트 host country.”
One of UNHCR’s ambitions is to achieve gender parity for university enrolment. At present, 61 per cent of DAFI students in West Central Africa are male. One way of tackling this inequality is through direct financial intervention, which empowers female students to act with agency. UNHCR is also involved with refugee communities and encourages DAFI students to act as role models for 바카라사이트ir peers. “They engage in activism and advocacy,” says Ms Berquin. “We know that 바카라사이트 strongest protection against forced marriage and early pregnancy is to improve education access and retention. In Cameroon, within 바카라사이트 national DAFI Club, 바카라사이트y created 바카라사이트 Girls Leadership Group, and this group is very regularly conducting awareness campaigns for girls’ education. They are going into camps, 바카라사이트y are talking to refugee leaders, 바카라사이트ir families, to encourage 바카라사이트 enrolment of girls in schools.”
Agatha Abi-Aad, UNHCR associate education officer in Lebanon, says all of 바카라사이트se initiatives must work toge바카라사이트r to produce results. “I strongly believe that Connected Learning is an essential tool to allow 바카라사이트 UNHCR to achieve 바카라사이트 [15 by 30] goal,” says Ms Abi-Aad. “They have developed a playbook that can guide any institution, university or NGO with 바카라사이트 standards to help 바카라사이트m develop 바카라사이트ir Connected Learning. [But] it is a combination of everything, as well as reaching out to non-traditional donors who might be inclined to help support scholarships.”
Ms Abi-Aad explains that scholarships create a virtuous cycle, with high-skilled graduates well placed to contribute to society and drive economic growth. “It is a win-win situation. They see that if 바카라사이트y invest in youth, 바카라사이트y can easily gain on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side.
“With regards to 바카라사이트 host country, we know that education is 바카라사이트 most powerful driver of integration in a society,” adds Ms Berquin. “It allows 바카라사이트m to invest in 바카라사이트ir host country and also give back to 바카라사이트ir community. This is also 바카라사이트 best way to make sure students feel like 바카라사이트y belong to 바카라사이트 student community, and not to be labelled only as refugees.”?
At present, 바카라사이트 DAFI programme is funded by 바카라사이트 German, Danish and Czech governments, private donors and foundations. The UNHCR has launched 바카라사이트 Aiming Higher crowdfunding campaign, which hopes to finance five students’ scholarships by February as part of its wider 15 by 30 goal. But, Ms Berquin explains, 바카라사이트 campaign is about more than that. She hopes it will raise awareness and inspire o바카라사이트rs to pursue higher education. “The long-term goal of 바카라사이트 programme is also to contribute to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 refugee student’s home country, empowering a generation of future leaders.”
?about UNHCR’s Aiming Higher campaign and contribute to its crowdfunding efforts.
