Refugee Youth share their vision for a more connected world

Growing up as a refugee is difficult. Being forced to flee and leave your home behind has a wide-ranging impact on refugee youth’s mental health, education, social circles, aspirations and dreams. Around 22% of refugees in Rwanda are youth between the ages of 15-24. UNHCR is committed to protecting refugee youth and supporting their growth and development.

In 2022, 13 refugee youths participated in the Generation Connect Global Youth Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda. Here they share their educational experiences and thoughts about how to create a more connected world.

Egide (27, a Burundian national) was a first cohort of the ITEME program in Rwanda. He has recently returned to his country of origin, and he is continuing to use his skills, working at a tech company. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

Sadiki (30) (a Congolese refugee who has recently been resettled to Canada) was working as a Refugee Student Affairs Manager at Kepler University. Previously, he worked as a Refugee College Guidance Counselor at Kepler Kigali and worked for six years as a high school teacher in Kiziba Refugee Camp before joining Kepler. He is passionate about education in emergencies, and he is a founding member and one of the global leaders of the Tertiary Refugee Student Network. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

Noella (25, Congolese refugee in Zambia) is the former President of DAFI Club Zambia, a Tertiary Refugee Student Network member, and a Humanitarian Youth Ambassador. Noella has studied journalism to connect the world on youth and refugee issues; she has participated in many high-level forums and moderated many youth discussions. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

John (26, Congolese refugee in Rwanda) heads the team of university students in Mugombwa Refugee camp where they try to help students have access to technology and attend higher education institutions. He is also helping both refugees and host community to develop their businesses using technology. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

Astere (28, Burundian refugee in Rwanda) is currently a sports coach and a Community Social Media Influencer in Mahama refugee camp in Rwanda. He is committed in helping the refugee community and inspiring refugee youth. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

Bello (32, Central African Republic refugee in Chad) is a Business Law Master’s Student at Emi Koussi University in Chad. Following his first degree, Bello became involved with a business incubator in N’Djamena’s Chadian capital. Bello’s ambition is to help and facilitate the young people in his community to realize their dreams. Bello is a regional leader for Tertiary Refugee Student Network. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

Benilde (20, Congolese refugee in Rwanda) recently graduated from high school and is currently working as a primary school teacher. One day, she wants to get a scholarship for her tertiary education in studying journalism to advocate for refugee youths. © UNHCR/Arum Cho

How have you had to persevere to continue your education?

John: It is hard to remember the time I started studying as it was frequently disrupted as my family moved back-and-forth movement between Rwanda and my home country, Congo. My mom used to tell me, “Your hope for the future is through education”. In 2013, when we found asylum in Rwanda, I did not waste my time on meaningless things. I worked hard, day and night to find scholarships. At the national examination, I got 64/73 in literature in English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. This was my great achievement in high school.

Noella: My childhood has not been smooth sailing. I had to struggle to get to where I am now. As a girl, I faced many challenges, having to work to buy food to eat even when I was in primary and secondary school. It is a privilege to have obtained the DAFI scholarship which has enabled me to acquire tertiary education.

Astere: My childhood was rough with many sleepless nights in fear of being killed. I dreamed of growing up in a peaceful environment. But I remember my mom and dad inspiring me to continue studying. My family reduced their own food intake and accepted hunger to have the money to educate me, and my siblings.

What was the main turning point in your life?

Noella: Being passionate about media made me want to do something to make a change. I did not like the stories I read or heard about refugees. The images of refugees are dominated by what we see in the media: arrivals of desperate families on boats, or angry young men pushing down fences. More so, you hear that the refugees are criminals, thieves and so on. I decided to pursue my journalism career not only because of passion but also to change the narrative about refugees in the media.

Benilde: Even at this moment of me attending this Global Summit is a turning point for me. I know many refugees feel uncomfortable to speak out, but we need to make our voice heard and make every moment ours.

Egide: Growing up in a refugee camp, you realise that you are the only one who can put yourself on the right track, to provide for your family but also make a bigger change in the community.

What has been the impact of higher education in your life so far?

Sadiki: Higher education has tremendously impacted my life. I have grown into a responsible and organized person. I have had a great shift in mindset, and I now developed proactive behaviour to change my life.

Egide: Yes. I agree with Sadiki that higher education was a turning point of my life. It broadened my perspective and brought hope to my life. Higher education reminded me that you can still have a big dreams as a refugee and have a job that you dreamed of, like I do now.

Sadiki: And the income that I earn from my job helps change more lives too. I use my income to help my family. I pay for the school fees for my siblings in high school and support my family in Kigali.

We see that there are so many benefits from higher education. What were some challenges you face in accessing quality education? Were there any technological challenges?

Egide: A LOT of technological challenges! The first year in university was the worst! I spent the first whole month learning to type. I was totally lost. I was even thinking of dropping out.

Benilde: In the schools I went to, all the learning is on paper, so I guess it is normal for people to be lost at first. I remember when I had an assignment to create a folder on computer. Back then, I did not even know how to turn on the computer!

John: Yeah. Those things you think are simple – finding the power button, creating the folders, typing, turning on the internet, using PDF – they are all challenging for refugees having the chance to access computer rarely.

Sadiki: Lack of digital access even takes away the chance to apply for a scholarship. These days, the scholarship applications have to be made online and I see that a lot of high school graduates struggle to find and apply to those opportunities.

Why is access to technology and connectivity particularly important for refugee education?

Bello: If we take the example of COVID-19, we can learn many things. If there was a wide connection, refugees would have been able to learn continuously. Many refugee students did not have such access which stopped some children from learning.

Sadiki: When students have access to connected devices, they do research, and the vast digital resources help them in their learning. Also, students can complete their studies from abroad through connected learning programs. Today, we have the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium (CLCC) that leads the work to support refugee students to access connected learning opportunities, and this cannot be possible if young refugees are not having access to technology and internet connectivity.

John: Also, we live in a world where 90% or above jobs will be done online or have links to technology. If we are left behind, we cannot have opportunities to be self-reliant.

Have you seen any changes in your community especially among young people, that benefitted from having access to computers, and internet connectivity?

John: YES. People have benefitted from having access to a computer and I am one of them. The computer has helped me to study and now I am a graduate trying everything possible to shape my life and impact my community. I know other people who are broadening their connections through access to the internet and others who can now market their small businesses to reach more people. In the community, you can find people having emails, connected to their family members around the World, or having access to information through the help of the internet. Some other youths have basic skills in computer utilization.

Noella: I also saw many changes in my community. Many young people can do research online, and learn skills via YouTube such as baking, and playing the guitar or keyboard. Others have learnt to use software like adobe premiere pro, InDesign, and Corel draw.

Benilde: Especially for girls, it also improves our safety. It helps us to know our right, report the problems we are facing and have access to accurate information. Some youths fear to report worrying that others will hurt them. It will help them to resolve their problem

What do you hope will change for future generations?

Benilde: As a primary school teacher, I see the important of creating a digital future for refugee children. Giving the kids the opportunity will ensure the rights to access the technology at early age and it will help them to spread their action, to accumulate more information

Astere: I hope that there is an amplified voice in refugee digital inclusion.

Sadiki: Yes, and from that digital inclusion. I hope that the future generation will earn diverse employable skills, equipped with needed competencies to work in a digital world. I hope that displacement will no longer be a barrier to those young people with skills.

Noella: I hope all the change come along with inclusive jobs and social safety nets for refugees, like freedom of movement, work, and study permit, as well as equitable access to healthcare worldwide.

Do you have a message for other displaced youths around the world?

Noella: There is hope beyond the conflicts and struggles we have encountered, defy the odds, and aim higher.

Benilde: Work hard to be comfortable to speak, share your ideas, report problems on time you have an equal voice with other youth.

Egide: Getting familiar to technology will open doors to jobs and education opportunities. It will also connect you to all the people around the world and bring more network that will boost your life.

Bello: I want to ask them to learn new things to help their community. Thanks to technology, we have many things that we can learn. Do not lose hope because the best is yet to come. Never give up.

Sadiki: I would tell the displaced youths all around that world that they must stand together, to support each other in the journey towards 15by30 because it is a very important roadmap to change their lives. It is not about the lack of potential for refugees. It is about the lack of opportunities that affect their lives.

John: My message to other displaced youth is to have hope, believe in yourself, have a goal, and work hard toward it. Also, use the available opportunity and don’t waste your time on anything meaningless. Again, involve technology in your plans as it is hard to live without technology in the upcoming years.

Astere: Dear Refugees, open your eyes and see what can change your life, the time to act is now.