Finding Her Way: Raghad’s Journey to Education

Raghad Ahmed Abd Ali Al-Zeyadi is a 21-year-old student who came from Iraq to Türkiye with her family in 2018. As the oldest of four siblings—including two with autism—she’s become a strong support for her family. “It was very hard at first,” she says. “We didn’t speak the language, we had no relatives here, and my mother had to raise us on her own.”

Today, Raghad is a second-year student in the First and Emergency Aid program at Dokuz Eylül University in İzmir. Through the support of the DAFI scholarship, provided within the framework of UNHCR’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative, she has been able to rewrite her story—from facing challenges to gaining skills and confidence.

“Being a DAFI scholar has changed my life completely.”

 

“Before the scholarship, I could only come to İzmir during exam periods. I didn’t have enough money to live here full time,” she explains. “Sometimes I’d come, work long hours for very little pay, and try to attend school. But it was hard.” That all changed when she received the DAFI scholarship. “Now I live in a dormitory thanks to the scholarship. I can go to my classes regularly. I only work one or two days a week, just to meet my own needs. Before, I worked 6–7 days a week. DAFI has changed my life completely.”

“I really liked that the programme was just two years.”

 

Though her childhood dream was to become a doctor, Raghad couldn’t afford the tuition fees. But she found purpose in her current path. “Being a paramedic is like being a bridge between a nurse and a doctor. I really liked that the programme was just two years,” she says.

“My life changed 180 degrees,” she says when discussing her programme. “Before, I didn’t know anything. Now, I understand how to measure blood pressure, how to respond in incidents like traffic accidents, and even how to tell what’s wrong when someone coughs.”

She is currently interning with the İzmir Provincial Health Directorate’s Ambulance Station, working both in an ambulance and at the hospital. “Internships give you experience while you’re still studying. I’ve worked with great teams. I now know how I will work in the future—and how to communicate with people.”

Raghad speaks with warmth about her Turkish colleagues and patients. “I love my ambulance team. They are so positive and kind. They welcomed me nicely.” She has also found fulfillment in volunteering through her dormitory, particularly with children at care homes run by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. “We organized activities during Ramazan, broke fasts together, played games. The children gave me so much love. It made me feel good psychologically.”

Raghad is determined to find her place in the healthcare field. She has already started her job search—speaking with ISKUR (Turkish Employment Agency), reaching out to Turkish friends, and exploring opportunities online. “I’m looking for positions in İzmir or Eskişehir,” she says. “I haven’t found the right opportunity yet, but I’m not giving up.”

Her resilience, like her spirit, is unwavering—and she credits her family and a supportive teacher for keeping her on course. “My family always expected the best from me. Thanks to them, I didn’t give up on education.”

Raghad's story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when determination is met with opportunity. The DAFI scholarship hasn’t just supported her education—it has restored her independence and hope.

Background Information

In the 2023–2024 academic year, 60,750 Syrian youth were enrolled in higher education in Türkiye, achieving an enrolment rate of over 12%—well above the 7% global average for refugee enrolment. At this pace, Türkiye is on track to be the first country to achieve UNHCR’s "15 by 30" goal.

DAFI programme has supported over 27,200 scholars to access higher education in their countries of asylum since 1992 through the support of German Government, Denmark Government, foundations and private sector donors. In 2024 alone, the DAFI programme supported more than 700 refugee students in Türkiye. It is UNHCR’s flagship higher education scholarship programme and is currently implemented in 59 countries worldwide, including in Türkiye since 2014. The DAFI programme for Syrian nationals has been implemented in partnership with Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) since 2015. Türkiye has hosted one of the largest DAFI programmes for several years in a row.

Beyond academic degrees, DAFI strongly emphasizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), recognizing its vital role in enhancing refugee youth’s employability and integration into local economies. In line with UNHCR’s "Education 2030" strategy, DAFI promotes access to vocational pathways that meet labour market needs, providing practical, work-based skills for sustainable livelihoods. Türkiye operation notably tracks and analyses TVET outcomes, highlighting the growing importance of technical education for refugee resilience and economic participation. UNHCR Türkiye remains grateful to Germany for continuing to stand with refugees in Türkiye and for their support in enabling them to build a solid future for themselves.