Love and Resilience: Amouna and Hemyir’s Journey in the Central African Republic
Love and Resilience: Amouna and Hemyir’s Journey in the Central African Republic
Amouna and Hemyir, a Sudanese refugee student couple in CAR, are rebuilding their future through higher education, supported by the Mastercard Foundation.
In the Central African Republic, a love story has taken root in the aftermath of conflict and displacement. Amouna, 31, and Hemyir, 30, a young married couple from Sudan, have navigated profound loss and uncertainty to build a future together grounded in education, service, and mutual support.
Their journey has been enabled through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) scholarship programme, supported through a transformative partnership between UNHCR and the Mastercard Foundation.
From Sudan to Safety
Amouna was studying at the University of Al-Noetain in Khartoum when the war began. Recalling that moment, she said, “I was a student in Sudan. When the war started, we fled and sought safety in Birao in the Central African Republic.” The conflict came at a devastating personal cost. “We lost a lot of people, including my father, my brothers, our house, and even my uncles. Two of my brothers were also wounded in the attacks,” she shared. After receiving treatment in Birao, Amouna later moved to Bangui, carrying grief alongside a determination to continue her education.
Hemyir’s journey began in Nyala, Darfur. As violence escalated, he recalls, “I fled to Amdafock, a town near the Sudan border with the Central African Republic. After three months, I joined my family, and later we came to Birao.” While in Birao, he began actively searching for a way to resume his studies. “I was searching for a scholarship, and I found one, then I applied,” he said. He was focused on continuing his education, adding, “I came here to learn French and then continue university. I hope to study information technology.”
Reunited Through Service
Amouna and Hemyir met by chance on the road while fleeing the conflict in Sudan. Separated in the chaos, they both eventually found safety in the Central African Republic, unaware their paths would cross again.
In Birao, Amouna and Hemyir reunited while volunteering together at the IMC clinic, where they served patients and supported the refugee community. What began as shared service gradually grew into a partnership grounded in resilience, compassion, and a shared purpose: to continue their studies and build a future together.
Both were later selected as DAFI scholars and travelled from Korsi, a refugee neighborhood in Birao to the capital Bangui in March 2025. Shortly after arriving, Amouna and Hemyir married, surrounded by the love and support of their family and community.
Starting Over in Bangui
Amouna and Hemyir are part of 30 refugee students who make up the first-ever cohort of DAFI scholars in the Central African Republic. The students enrolled in an intensive French bridging programme launched in March 2025 through the partnership between UNHCR and the Mastercard Foundation. The pilot initiative supports refugee students preparing to enter the national university system and resume their studies.
“It’s a rigorous programme,” Hemyir said, “but we are determined to succeed.”
Settling in Bangui brought new challenges, particularly language and cultural adjustment. “Life here is very different from Sudan, the people, the culture — a total change,” Amouna said. “We spoke Arabic and some dialects. But here people speak Sango and French, and just a little bit of Arabic. That was the first change. Thanks to God, we were able to adapt.”
Dreams for a Brighter Future
Education has become central to how Amouna and Hemyir think about their future together. Amouna hopes to pursue a career in television and media, using storytelling to promote education. Reflecting on her aspirations, she said, “In Sudan, I dreamed of becoming a director, actor, or journalist. Even here in CAR, I hope to continue that path. I’m not limiting what I study but prefer to continue what I was doing.” Education, she added, is foundational to their plans. “Education is essential. We want a better future for our family.”
For Hemyir, education is also about giving back. He hopes to become a professor to teach and support others through learning. Speaking about what they are building together, he said, “We want to build a life together, learning from the best professors and giving back.”
With support from the Mastercard Foundation, Amouna continues her university studies.
A Future Built Together
Their story is one of building forward. Amouna is proud to be the first woman in her family to attend university. Hemyir has long dreamed of teaching at a university. Together, they balance studies and small business ventures while building an independent life in Bangui.
With the support of the DAFI scholarship and the partnership between UNHCR and the Mastercard Foundation, Amouna and Hemyir are creating a pathway toward a future shaped by learning, commitment, and shared purpose.
Context and Scale
As of 31 December 2025, the Central African Republic hosts more than 63,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Over 70 per cent have fled the conflict in Sudan, alongside others from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and South Sudan. Since April 2023, the country has received a significant influx of Sudanese refugees, many seeking safety, stability, and access to education and livelihood opportunities.
