“All we need is a chance to achieve our aspirations.”

In November 2021, Muna Ahmed became the first student to graduate from the DAFI tertiary education scholarship programme being implemented on behalf of UNHCR by Windle International Somalia. Here, she shares her story:

Muna Ahmed was born in Mukkalah, Yemen, in 1992, the second child in a family of four. She successfully completed her primary and secondary education in Taizz. But when civil war broke out, her family was forced to flee and seek sanctuary in Somalia as refugees in 2016.

Despite the upheaval, Muna was determined to continue her education. Her family used what little savings they had to enrol her at East Africa University. Her commitment to education paid off, and in September 2019, Muna was awarded the DAFI (Albert Einstein Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship, which is implemented by Windle International Somalia on behalf of UNHCR.

After graduating from the Medical Laboratory in the faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Muna believes that everyone should have the opportunity to foster their dreams. She is determined in her belief that being a refugee is not a permanent situation, and that all people, especially those who have experienced conflict, have dreams and talents that need to be nurtured.

“I am on my way towards achieving my dreams. There are many other refugees like me with dreams and aspirations, and all they need is a chance to actualise and achieve them.”

Read more about Windle International Somalia’s delivery of the DAFI programme here.