Aiming higher this International Women’s Day
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Dear John,

This International Women’s Day, we wanted to introduce you to our Aiming Higher campaign, and how it’s helping to empower female refugee students around the world by providing opportunities to pursue higher education.

John, take a look at these facts to learn more about the power of educating women and girls:

➤ Educated women have a higher chance of escaping poverty, leading healthier and more productive lives, and improving the standard of living for themselves and their families

➤ The further girls progress with their schooling, the more they develop leadership skills, entrepreneurship and self-reliance

➤ Educated mothers are more likely to send their children to school, especially their daughters

 
 

For refugee women and girls, education is even more vital:

Education reduces vulnerability to exploitation, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as teenage pregnancy and child marriage

Accessing education is crucial to ensuring finding job opportunities and financial security

With equal opportunities for education, refugee women and girls have more agency to choose their own path in life

 
 

Education is the key to success 💪

Patience was 14 when she and her younger sister got separated from their parents and three other siblings while fleeing the civil war in Burundi. A local pastor brought them to UNHCR on the border of Malawi, where they have lived ever since. When she learnt about UNHCR’s scholarship programme, she knew she had to apply straight away, despite having two young children.

Her husband wasn’t sure at first, but once she started studying Computer Science, her husband began to realise that education could actually make a change for the family and create a better future for their children.

Patience said:

“Education is the key to success in life. It builds things up; it never breaks down anything.”
 
 

Our scholarship programme 🎓

Our scholarship programme not only covers fees and helps towards related expenses, but it helps students to become as employable as possible. This includes career readiness trainings, skills training, internships and mentoring as well as volunteering and networking opportunities. Right now, there are scholarship students in 53 different countries and, since the programme was launched 28 years ago, we’ve supported more than 18,500 young people.

From everyone here at UNHCR, thank you for supporting both us and refugees.

Breno Valentini
International Supporter Care
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

P.S. If you love the sound of our UNHCR Scholarship programme, there are multiple ways to show your support.

 
 
UNHCR The UN refugee Agency
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