Burundi : no more funds to finance university studies for refugee and returnee students

Young refugee and returnee graduates in Burundi are facing the unavailability of funds for the DAFI scholarship. This concerns the 2024-2025 academic year. The hope of many young refugee and returnee graduates to continue their higher education through DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarships has faded.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The lack of a budget for the UNHCR through the DAFI program for the 2024-2025 academic year has created a climate of despair among these young people. This program, managed by the UN agency in charge of refugees and implemented by the NGO RET, helps certain refugees who meet the required criteria by providing them with financial means necessary to pursue higher education at the undergraduate level (three years of training). However, the unavailability of funds for this academic year is jeopardizing dreams and aspirations of these young people.

Chantal Mawazo, 20 tears old, fled the war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and found refuge in Burundi. She recently graduated with a degree in General Pedagogy. “When I heard about the DAFI scholarships, I was full of hope. I was planning to apply to continue my studies in clinical psychology at the University of Burundi. But now that the UNHCR has announced that there are no funds for this year, I feel helpless. I have worked so hard to get here and I don’t want to see my dreams fade away,” she says.

For Chantal, education is not only a way to improve her life, but also a way to contribute to her community. “I wanted this degree and training to help refugees overcome their trauma,” she adds.

Divine Arakaza, who recently celebrated her 20th birthday in Burundi, graduated in Business Management two years ago. She had already started preparing her application for the DAFI scholarship. “It’s devastating to learn that funding is not available for this academic year,” she says.

The same goes for Jean Marie Irantije. At 25, he had just spent eight years in the Nduta camp in Tanzania before returning to his native Burundi. He was also hoping to receive a DAFI scholarship to continue his studies in Computer Science.

“It’s a big disappointment to learn that there will be no scholarships this year. I had already started preparing my application and dreaming about my professional future,” he says.

Irantije stressed the importance of scholarships for young people like him : “We need education to build a better future. Without financial support, many of us risk getting stuck in poverty and abandoning our ambitions.”

It is worth noting that the DAFI program is currently present in 59 countries around the world, including Burundi. The UNHCR-Burundi, through the DAFI scholarship program, covers a range of costs such as tuition fees, registration, study materials, food, transportation, accommodation and other expenses.

Young people applying for the DAFI scholarships come mainly from five Congolese refugee camps located in the localities of Kavumu, Kinama, Musasa, Nyankanda and Bwagiriza located in the provinces of Cankuzo, Muyinga, Ngozi and Ruyigi in the northeast and far-east of Burundi, as well as from the Giharo site in the province of Rutana (southeast) and from the urban areas of Bujumbura, the commercial city and Rumonge (southwest). A few young repatriated graduates located throughout the country and also meeting the selection criteria were previously concerned by this program.

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Congolese refugees at a water point in the Musasa camp in northern Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)