Press Releases

The Ambassador of Germany and the UNHCR Representative in Kyrgyz Republic meet refugee students in Bishkek

Bishkek, 17 November 2011 - During an annual gathering of DAFI scholars in Kyrgyzstan, H.E. Ambassador Gudrun Maria Sräga of Germany and UNHCR Representative Mr. Hans Friedrich Schodder awarded new scholars with certificates and congratulated recent graduates of the DAFI programme.

"The DAFI programme, financed by the German Government, has provided vital support towards the reconstruction of conflict countries worldwide by helping DAFI funded refugee graduates to achieve self-reliance, seek gainful employment and help his or her family", said the Ambassador. "I am pleased that 23 young refugees in Kyrgyzstan have successfully applied for support under the DAFI program and I hope that they, like many other DAFI graduates before, will use their talents and the education received with the help of DAFI for the common good of their home countries", she said.
The Representative of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) thanked the German Government for the DAFI program and the German Embassy as well as the Crisis Centre "Sezim" for their active support to its implementation in Kyrgyzstan. Addressing the students, Mr Schodder added "The impact of your hard studies is impressive also because you serve as a model for other refugees - particularly refugee girls - to advance their education and integration into Kyrgyzstan's society."
Since 1992 The German Government has funded DAFI - The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative - to support tertiary education for talented refugees worldwide. Its primary objective is to help deserving young refugees to pursue professional qualifications geared towards future employment and social integration in host countries or upon return to their home countries. A DAFI scholarship covers full tuition at universities and monthly living allowances for four years of studies. It has been implemented in 36 countries, among them Kyrgyzstan.
Education is very important to refugees as it brings hope of a brighter future. However, some universities still require refugee students to pay higher tuition fees, like foreign students. From 1999 to 2011, some 50 young refugees in Kyrgyzstan benefited from DAFI scholarships, studying a variety of subjects, including medicine, international relations, journalism and economics at different universities.
Currently the DAFI programme helps 23 refugee youth in Kyrgyzstan. They were selected by a committee comprised of the German Embassy, the UN Refugee Agency, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Migration and three refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations, namely Sezim, Counterpart Sheriktesh and Adilet. The selection process prioritized talented candidates who intend to contribute their skills to Kyrgyz society or their countries of origin in case of repatriation.
The annual meetings held by the German Embassy and UNHCR allow DAFI scholars to share stories about themselves, academic progress and problems encountered. During the meeting one DAFI scholar confirmed that "the DAFI scholarship is my key to the future. Education means independence for me. Now I can take decision concerning my life, otherwise that would be done by my parents or my future husband. Now I master my life and will try to make the utmost of this unique opportunity."