Fady attending an event organized by UNHCR's partner, Catholic Relief Services, to celebrate the achievements of refugee university students. ©UNHCR/Habiba Aly
In 2013, Fady fled the chaos and destruction of Syria’s civil war for safety in Egypt. It was the beginning of the story of a young boy leaving his home and friends in Syria to achieve the dream of being the first refugee to graduate from a UNHCR-supported scholarship programme.
The journey started when Fady’s father arrived at home one day with a computer. The curious ten-year-old was captivated; excited at how it worked, what it could do, and what possibilities lay within this black, matte machine. War was ravaging Syria though and Fady had to flee for his life south, to Egypt.
Traumatized and displaced in a new country, Fady found warmth in the memories of a home left behind: the toys, the street games with friends, the cozy family dinners, and a passion for computers. Then Fady had an idea, he would harness his interest into achieving a dream, one started back home in Syria.
His dream was simple, he thought, one day he would study computer engineering. The barriers to achieving his goal were high and wide though. He was a refugee; he had no money; so how could he afford the higher education fees? The answer too was simple, he couldn’t.
Then on an ordinary day at school, Fady was made aware of a scholarship to E-JUST offered by UNHCR through its implementing partner, Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Fady suddenly had a realization: The only thing that stood between him and his dreams was academic performance.
In Egypt, UNHCR works on expanding the access of refugees and asylum-seekers to tertiary education. More specifically, UNHCR provides high-achieving refugee and asylum-seeker students with a chance to earn an undergraduate degree from some of Egypt’s top universities. In the academic year 2022/2023, UNHCR provided scholarships to 600 refugee students of various nationalities, across different universities, including four students receiving their degrees at the E-Just university, generously funded by the Government of Japan.
It was no longer about money. It was now all about hard work that was achievable. He had overcome so much since leaving Syria and was determined to overcome this latest hurdle. His father who had first introduced him to computers believed he could do it and so did Fady.
And he did – with flying colours! After years of hard work, he excelled at his exams and received a scholarship to fulfill his dream of studying computers through E-JUST. University life wasn’t easy, and moving from home wasn’t straightforward.
“Living alone is a whole new experience. Dealing with this change as a refugee in a foreign country took time in the beginning”, recounts Fady. Soon though he had grown a group of friends and had joined a swimming club.
Then, after more years of hard work, Fady achieved the distinction of being part of the first cohort of refugees to successfully pass through E-JUST – with distinction. Fady had achieved what he thought was the impossible.
As a young boy arriving in Egypt with a suitcase, a head full of memories and a dream, Fady had turned his life into an inspiration. He had focused on the target and with a UNHCR scholarship he had hit it. He was grateful for the encouragement and support, and for a loving family with him all the way.
Fady has now set his sights on work experience for a year or two before undertaking a master’s degree to aligns with his passion in technology. Fady’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education.
It is also one of triumph over adversity, and a reminder that dreams may flourish, even from the rubble of war.
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