TECNO, an innovative technology company, has announced reinforced cooperation with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support its Refugee Scholarships Programme DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) for the second year. The collaboration seeks to provide higher education and internship opportunities to refugee scholars in Africa, allowing them to reach their full potential as adults and, ultimately, contributing to equal access to education for all.
Over 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2022, a 19.1 million rise from the previous year and the greatest single-year increase in history. Higher education is critical in restoring hope and dignity to those who have been forced to flee their homes. The DAFI scheme provides complete undergraduate scholarships to refugee students all over the world. The program's goal is to promote refugee self-sufficiency by increasing access to opportunities to earn academic credentials, develop knowledge and skills to improve preparedness for employment and entrepreneurship and empower students to contribute to host communities during displacement and upon return.
With support from TECNO and other partners, a total of 2,533 new refugee scholars were enrolled in higher education with DAFI scholarships in 2022 and the refugee tertiary education enrollment rate has increased from 3% in 2020 to 6%. Through the renewed partnership, 20 more refugee scholars will be provided with essential tuition costs and related support for things like transport and books – which can be crucial to enable young people to complete their studies. In addition, TECNO will provide internship opportunities at its branches or subsidiaries in Africa for refugee students if the national policy allows and their qualifications match the positions.
TECNO has been partnering with UNHCR to support refugee’s education since 2020. From Educate A Child (EAC) programme to support the improvement of refugee children’s education in Africa, ensuring refugee children’s right to education and ultimately contribute to equal access to education for all; to DAFI scholarship to increase the access for young refugees to tertiary education and employment opportunities.
Vanno Noupech, UNHCR Representative in China, expressed appreciation for TECNO’s continued support. “UNHCR welcomes this renewed partnership,” he said. “Investing in tertiary education is an investment not just in the students – the leaders and role models for tomorrow – but in their communities. We hope more private sector partners like TECNO will join hands with UNHCR to address gaps in refugee education globally and spread the message of solidarity.”
Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO said, “As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours, TECNO keeps giving back to the communities where our business is present. With strengthened partnership with UNHCR in the DAFI programme, we continue to support more young refugees to access higher education, acquire knowledge, develop skills, and help them build a better life for themselves, make positive contributions to their communities, and work together for a brighter future for Africa.”
Launched in 1992, UNHCR’s Refugee Scholarship programme DAFI is the largest and longest running higher education refugee scholarship in the world. To date, DAFI has supported over 21,000 young refugee women and men to obtain a higher education qualification. The DAFI programme was implemented in 55 countries in 2021. Africa is DAFI’s largest programme region with 34 countries.
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