The photo exhibition “Becoming Who We Are” will be on digital display at Kista Library in Stockholm, Sweden, for the month of September.
© Antoine Tardy
Higher education is key in allowing young people to thrive and build better futures. However, only 5 percent of all refugee youth have access to higher education – far below the global average of 40 percent of non-refugees enrolled in higher education.
On 1 September, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launches the photo exhibition “Becoming Who We Are” which showcases the transformative impact of higher education for people forced to flee.
The digital exhibition tells the positive stories of refugee students and graduates who have pursued higher education in Chad, Zambia, Malawi and Egypt. Across the world, they are joined by other young refugees who did not let their situation define who they are. Who overcame the obstacles and hardships to unlock their potential.
Ultimately, these are stories of resilience, determination and hope. We need to ensure that these success stories are multiplied.
One of the pillars to achieve this goal is UNHCR’s Refugee Scholarship Programme, DAFI, which this year marks its 30th anniversary. In three decades – and with the support of donors, education stakeholders and authorities – the programme has helped over 22,500 refugee youth from more than 50 countries access higher education.
“Education is the way I’ve been building my future,” says Imam, one of the recipients of the DAFI scholarship who features in the exhibition. He adds that, “With education, we can build a better generation.”
UNHCR also advocates for strengthening connected learning programmes, which take advantage of digital and technical solutions and platforms; for ensuring that more refugees are included in national systems and are able to enroll in national universities; and for building more educational pathways for refugees to access universities in safe, third countries, for example via student visas.
The exhibition has been produced by photographer Antoine Tardy and is generously hosted by Kista Library in Stockholm for the full month of September.
Kista Galleria, 164 53 Kista, Stockholm
Open every day from 10am to 8pm
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