Germany Praises Zambia For Steps Taken To Offer Education To Refugees

The German government has praised the New Dawn administration for their implementation of the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI).

DAFI is a scholarship programme for refugees which looks to offer qualified refugees or students who were forced to stop their studies the opportunity to undertake an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum.

The announcement came during a speech by the German Embassy Press Officer, Lisa Stubbs, at the 30 year celebration of the programme. During the speech, she commended the government for its work with the DAFI Programme.

She said that Zambia is one of the few countries to achieve their gender education goal. Currently, 35 of the 71 students being supported by DAFI in Zambia are women.

Ms Stubbs stated, “With the help of the DAFI programme, young refugees can further develop their skills and knowledge and acquire academic qualifications.”

Additionally, Jockshan Foryoh, an Education Officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) also acknowledged the steps Zambia had taken for the inclusion of refugees into education.

During the ceremony, Onesphore Murishi, a beneficiary of DAFI said the programme gave him hope for the future.

Murishi is currently training to be a doctor at the University of Zambia.

Photo: Caritas Czech Republic in Zambia