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On World Refugee Day, with the hashtag #UBRefugi2023, we share thoughts of students from the Refugee Support Program, of which you can be a patron.
There are currently more than 110 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, compared to 51.2 million ten years ago. These people’s access to education is a right, and it contributes to their social and economic inclusion, as well as to create culturally richer and more cohesive societies. But only 6% of people in a refugee situation can study at the university.
Promoting access to higher education is advancing towards the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and it is necessary to avoid the emergence of “lost generations”.
The University of Barcelona, within its actions of social responsibility, equality and cooperation, has been contributing to this goal since 2015, through its Support program for refugees and people from conflict areas. The initiative includes a Transition course to university, co-financed by the Barcelona City Council, which every edition welcomes 15 students in a refugee situation residing outside the European Union. Apart from a study grant, the program provides these people with a comprehensive support in line with the so-called complementary pathways for admision to third countries.
Video “Host University” (University of Barcelona, 2020)
On June 20, World Refugee Day, the University of Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to them, and registers it specifically at the Forum Spain with Refugees, organized by the UNHCR, in which the UB participates in the Higher Education panel, from 15:55 to 16:50.
In parallel, the UB Solidarity Foundation shares, through social networks, thoughts of students of the Transition course to university, which are accompanied by images of program activities and photographs of Lesvos (Greece), one of the most representative places of the impact of the lack of policies to protect the human rights of displaced people. With the hashtag #UBRefugi2023, these thoughts are added to UNHCR’s global campaign, which this year has as its motto «Hope away from home».
Have you already collaborated with the UB Support Program for Refugee?
Through the microcenage campaign Refuge University: Safe ways to support refugee students, launched by UB Sponsors, you can contribute to the scholarships of the Program, so that young people from Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Palestine, among other countries, can access the university, and find here a safe and inclusive space where they can resume training and life.
Documentary “Refuge University” (Nanouk Films, 2019)
#UBRefugi2023
#WorldRefugeeDay
#Refugees
