For Aya, Nihad, and Taha, education is more than a personal endeavour – it’s a way to give back to their communities. As refugees in Iraq, they have all faced significant challenges to get to where they are today, but with the support of the DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme, implemented by UNHCR, they are confident they can progress even further.
Aya vividly recalls the day when she first entered the gates of Hawler Medical University, where she is currently a fourth-year student studying physiotherapy. “It felt surreal,” she says describing the surge of emotion she experienced, similar to the day she found out she was first accepted to university.
“All the hard work, all the sacrifices, led to this.”
This feeling is not unique. Since 2016, 488 refugee students, including 280 women, have been sponsored by DAFI Scholarship, studying in 21 universities across Iraq. DAFI, which stands for the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, was established in 1992 through the support of Germany and has since supported over 26,300 young refugees globally to undertake higher education.
One of the main purposes of the DAFI scholarship is to lessen the financial burden refugee families and students often face when trying to enrol in university. This was particularly important for Taha Al-Khadish, a Palestinian refugee who was born and grew up in Baghdad.
“Ever since middle school, I felt it would be a challenge to attend university. I knew that university is expensive, and constantly questioned how will I bear its costs or how will my parents bear its expenses?”
Today, however, Taha is in his fourth year studying Medical Technologies student at the Middle Technical University in Baghdad. He dreams of earning a master’s degree and a doctorate (PhD). “Just as the scholarship helped me and gave me the opportunity to complete my studies, my ambition is to help other refugees with education so that we can build a bright future for the country.”
Nihad also has a deep resolve to give back to his community. As a physiotherapy student, he envisions opening a clinic to serve both refugees and host communities.
“Physiotherapy restores health and well-being,” he explains. “My goal is to treat anyone, anywhere.”
Beyond contributing to their communities, Aya, Nihad, and Taha all agree that the DAFI programme has also renewed their sense of hope and helped them feel integrated into Iraqi society despite their refugee status. As part of the scholarship, UNHCR, in partnership with Sorouh for Sustainable Development Foundation, organizes additional activities such as counselling sessions, social events, gatherings, and voluntary activities for DAFI students to network, meet and discuss common challenges they are facing as well as bridge the gap between education and employment.
DAFI scholars also receive financial support to help them meet their additional educational needs such as buying books or covering transportation costs to university, easing the financial strain on families who otherwise could not afford these costs.
Ultimately the scholarship programme aims to empower refugee youth to contribute meaningfully to their communities while building a brighter future for themselves and others.
“Every refugee has both rights and responsibilities. For me, continuing my studies is part of contributing to this community while preparing to help my own people one day,” Nihad concludes.
Through the dedicated support of the Government of Germany, along with the support of the government of Denmark, as well as other private partners and foundations, the DAFI scholarship continues to support refugee students in Iraq and around the world.
Lilly Carlisle contributed reporting to this story.
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