DAFI Scholarships – a better chance for education for refugees

Higher education is not a commodity but an initiative which should target all the generations of future change-makers no matter where they are. UNHCR, a global organization known also as the UN Refugee Agency is dedicated to protecting and building a better future for stateless people, refugees, and displaced communities. Among UNHCR’s global community projects, higher education is its priority.

The most renowned scholarship program offered by UNHCR is called DAFI and plays an extremely important part in allowing refugees scattered across the world to access higher education means. The DAFI program was initiated in 1921 and since then has managed to grow considerably. More than 2.321 refugee students joined the chance of studying at colleges and universities in 40 countries of asylum in 2015.

For those who wish to gain a deep understanding of DAFI, they should know that the program, initiated by UNHCR enables refugees at the tertiary level in polytechnic institutions and universities to benefit of the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund (DAFI). The Federal Government of Germany is funding this program. The program is aimed to help refugees gain professional qualifications for their future employment. Scholarships are offered only to students who pursue academic programs in the country of asylum. Then, the students should consider either returning home or contributing to the reconstruction of their home country. Helping the community of refugee at large, or developing the country of asylum are also other aspects they should consider.

The scholarships are destined only to countries in transition or developing countries, being available in developing countries where a significant refugee population is settles, mostly Asia and Africa. The following countries from Africa are included in the program: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The competition is extremely high and the number of DAFI scholarships is extremely limited, only a portion of the qualified candidates will be admitted to this program.

Who is eligible to apply for DAFI? In order to be considered eligible, the entrants should be refugees with a declared status who have managed to complete successfully secondary school to a high standard in camp based refugee schools or national schools of their home countries or asylum. Are welcomed at apply student refugees who do not have the financial means to support themselves. The applicants should not be older than 28 years old at the beginning of their studies. The applicants must select a choice of study course with 3 to 4 years duration.

How one can apply? If the entrants comply with the above mentioned criteria and if there is a current DAFI program running in their country of asylum, they are invited to apply by completing an application form which will be submitted directly to UNHCR. Forms are available at UNHCR offices. Here is a list with all the offices around the world where they can go and submit their application /https://www.unhcr.org/unhcr-around-world.html

The expenses covered by DAFI include the registration/ tuition fee, the annual allowances, and the subsistence allowances.