Chasing a childhood dream despite being forced to flee

At 11 years old, Jackson Mugisha, envisioned himself making a difference in the medical field once grown up. Back then, he was in primary five in his home of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But fast forward 14 years and now a refugee in Rwanda, Jackson is on his way to achieving his dream and is currently studying medicine at university.

Now aged 25, Jackson explains how in 2012  his dream almost faded from reality. He was in senior one when armed conflict hit his neighborhood in Eastern DRC and his family was forced to flee.

Eventually the family found safety in Rwanda and settled in Kigeme refugee camp. From there,  Jackson was able to resume his education, thanks to assistance from the United High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Despite the hardships he faced as a refugee student, Jackson had an unwavering dream of becoming a medical professional.

“Although I was unsure of how I would accomplish this goal, I remained determined,” he recalls. “During my ordinary-level studies in Rwanda, my passion for medicine persisted. I successfully completed the ordinary level national exam, achieving high grades and securing my preferred subject combination of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology.”

With the support of Impact Hope , an organization in Rwanda dedicated to supporting refugee education, Jackson pursued his preferred subjects in advanced secondary education and ultimately passed the final national examination. He got excellent grades required for securing admission to study medicine at the University of Rwanda (UR).

“I successfully completed the interview process and gained admittance to the general medicine and surgery programme in 2018,” he explains. “It was an immense source of pride and joy to be selected from a pool of 439 students from across the country, ultimately being one of the 92 successful candidates.”

In line with the commitment of the Government to integrate refugees into the national education system, refugee students performing well in the national exam are supported to get scholarships. UNHCR and partners, such as Impact Hope, who are part of the refugee response in Rwanda are dedicated to support refugees to get access to higher education. However, the shortage of financial means still hinders efforts to help more refugees get higher education. only 4% of eligible refugees in Rwanda are currently following tertiary education.With the support of Impact Hope, Jackson is currently in his fourth year at the University of Rwanda's School of Medicine. He eagerly anticipates his final year, where he will complete his journey and earn his degree in Medicine and Surgery.

The integration of refugee students provides a beacon of light for refugees who have been uprooted from their homes due to conflicts and persecution. Within a nurturing and inclusive environment, refugee students like Jackson can pursue education, dream of a brighter future, and rebuild their lives.