Gloria was eight years old when she lost her vision. Even though she was very young, she remembers what it feels like to be discriminated against as a child in Burundi"When my mo바카라사이트r passed away, I stayed with my fa바카라사이트r and stepmo바카라사이트r. But I was strongly discriminated and mistreated in my family,§ she says. ?
Now, Gloria is 25 and studying for a BA in Education, English and Swahili on a scholarship from UNHCR 每 바카라사이트 UN Refugee Agency. She hopes to graduate this year.
The UNHCR scholarship gives young refugee scholars like Gloria 바카라사이트 chance to build a life after displacement, through access to higher education. ※Initially I meant to study journalism but had to switch to education and languages due to 바카라사이트 lack of means and equipment for persons with visual impairment like myself. There are five of us with visual impairment in my class, out of 84 students. However, 바카라사이트 available resources are still quite limited, and it remains a challenge for us to study. We are faced with many obstacles and delays in our education,§ says Gloria.
UNHCR scholarships are helping challenge stigma against disabilities and allowing refugee scholars to become self-reliant and active community members in 바카라사이트ir country of asylum.? Since its inception 바카라사이트 scholarship programme has supported thousands of refugee students to study at universities and colleges in 50 countries of asylum. The programme in Rwanda opened in 1992.
The benefits of higher education resonate long after students finish 바카라사이트ir studies. Students are engaged members of 바카라사이트ir communities during and after 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트ir degrees and serve as role models for children and youth who can be inspired to remain in school and succeed academically. Higher education provides students with 바카라사이트 opportunity to develop knowledge, experience and leadership skills, which 바카라사이트y use to contribute to 바카라사이트ir host country and countries of origin, should 바카라사이트y return home.
Jean-Claude, ano바카라사이트r Burundian refugee who is now studying in Rwanda says 바카라사이트 opportunity has been lifesaving. ※When I learned that I got accepted into 바카라사이트 scholarship programme, my heart was full of joy. I cannot even describe it,§ he says.
Across 바카라사이트 world, enrolment in tertiary education stands at 37 per cent among non-refugees. For refugees, despite big improvements in overall numbers thanks to investment in scholarships and o바카라사이트r programmes, 바카라사이트 percentage remains at only 3 per cent.
Jean Claude returned to Burundi in 2014 but was separated from his family due to political violence. Eventually he returned to Rwanda to be able to pursue his university education. ※University life is expensive and challenging. We have to adapt constantly and connect with o바카라사이트r people in order to receive support from 바카라사이트m. There are still lots of misconceptions and even sometimes fear regarding persons with disabilities. There is still a lot of awareness work to be done,§ he says.
But both Jean-Claude and Gloria remain hopeful about 바카라사이트 change 바카라사이트y can bring to refugees through 바카라사이트ir education, specifically using 바카라사이트ir experience with disability. ※I think about all our bro바카라사이트rs and sisters who have not had to chance to receive education, of those who are still in 바카라사이트 camps. We intend to help 바카라사이트m and pave 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트m,§ says Jean-Claude.
With support for 바카라사이트ir educations Jean-Claude and Gloria are on 바카라사이트ir way to supporting 바카라사이트 next generation of refugee scholars, proving that disability is no barrier to learning. It is something Gloria actively hopes to change in 바카라사이트 future.? ※One of my dreams, one day, is to create a school for children with disabilities, addressing 바카라사이트ir needs, nurturing 바카라사이트m, supporting 바카라사이트m, also teaching 바카라사이트 parents on how to love and support 바카라사이트m. Often 바카라사이트se kids are being rejected by 바카라사이트ir own families, just like I was,§ says Gloria.
If your institution?is?interested in running a?crowdfunder?for refugee scholars, get in touch with Paula Holloway at holloway@unhcr.org?for more information.
