Education: A Bridge to Hope and Opportunities

Education can be a powerful way to help reshape the lives of refugees, who have had to leave all they have known behind, including their educational foundations. Higher education enables thousands of refugee youth to develop skills and gain qualifications, empowering them to take leadership in identifying solutions for the issues impacting both themselves and their communities.
Consider the journey of Hamid, who left his home country of Afghanistan with his family and fled to Türkiye 5 years ago in search of safety and a life with better opportunities. Now residing in Samsun, Türkiye, Hamid recently marked his graduation from 19 Mayıs University in Samsun, having pursued a degree in anesthesiology.
Hamid's acquirement of this diploma is a story of determination. Hamid was resolute in his pursuit to participate in Türkiye's university entrance exam. As a civil engineering graduate in Afghanistan, he pivoted toward a different path upon arriving in Türkiye. Through the guidance of public education and private courses, he mastered the Turkish language and was able to secure his place at university.

"Being part of the healthcare field, where I can contribute to helping people, is rewarding.”

Feeling proud of this accomplishment, Hamid explains with a glimmer in his eyes the reason why he chose anesthesiology. "Being part of the healthcare field, where I can contribute to helping people, is rewarding. My profession makes helping people a must.” He further shares the gratification he feels from having such an impact on people’s lives and giving back to his community.
However, pursuing an education in a foreign country can have difficulties, both mentally and financially. This is where programs like the DAFI scholarship play a pivotal role. The purpose of the DAFI Programme is to contribute to the self-reliance of refugees by equipping them with professional qualifications that will support employment, as well as strengthen the resilience and capabilities of the refugee community.
Hamid explains the valuable contribution that the DAFI scholarship has had on his educational journey. ‘Certainly, the DAFI scholarship has helped me a lot. If it were not for this scholarship, I would have gone through a difficult education process.’ He goes on to express how the scholarship helped lift the financial burden off his shoulders, which gave him more opportunity to focus on his studies.

“There is always a helping hand, including the DAFI Scholarship.”

In a message to those who find themselves in circumstances similar to his own, Hamid said, ‘I have a message for all students who want to continue their education and to those who never stop fighting to reach their goals. There is always a helping hand, including the DAFI Scholarship.’
While continuing his education, Hamid continued to help those around him, volunteering his time to assist Afghan and Iraqi nationals in hospitals, serving as a translator. As a new graduate, Hamid is very hopeful about his future. He is eager to start his professional journey in a hospital, as well as to support his family by working. The excitement in his voice can be heard as he looks forward to making a difference in countless lives.
Hamid is just one of the many refugees that the DAFI scholarship has greatly impacted. Through the DAFI programme, UNHCR has been providing scholarships for refugee students for over twenty years.  It was introduced in Türkiye in 2014 and since then, has grown to be one of the largest DAFI programme worldwide.
This scholarship can be a lifeline for refugees as it empowers students to contribute knowledge, skills, leadership and promotes self-sufficiency. Through the dedicated support of the Government of Germany, along with the support of the government of Denmark, as well as UNHCR and private donors, the programme has supported over 24,300 young refugees to undertake tertiary studies since 1992. UNHCR Türkiye is grateful to Germany and Denmark for continuing to stand with refugees in Türkiye and for their support in enabling them to build a solid future for themselves.