Institutions and communities that open their doors to refugee students are enriched by the perspectives they bring. It is now a matter of supporting these programs through institutional mechanisms.
Institutions and communities that open their doors to refugee students are enriched by the perspectives they bring. It is now a matter of supporting these programs through institutional mechanisms.
Distance learning students living in camps for internally displaced persons in Myanmar face increasing challenges as living and educational expenses surge. The crisis makes it difficult for them to continue their education.
Students in Rakhine State affected by the issue report that the costs of accommodation, meals and tuition have risen significantly compared to the previous year, straining their ability to afford an education.
Ma Khin Myat Wai, a second-year student of Oriental Studies in the Shwe Parami IDP camp, Rathedaung Township, expressed her concerns, saying: “My parents are unable to work, and the cost of living is increasing.”
This makes it “extremely challenging” for her to continue her education, she said.
Supporting academic success
For its part, the Welcome Corps on Campus initiative is offering hope for refugee students. Hosted at Georgetown University, this consortium seeks to promote inclusivity and global citizenship by providing opportunities for refugees to study in the US.
Julieta Valls Noyes, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, and John J. DeGioia, Georgetown University president, are among the leaders supporting the program.
The Welcome Corps on Campus, an extension of the US Department of State’s broader Welcome Corps program, aims to sponsor refugee students for resettlement in the US, thereby facilitating their academic success. The initiative is funded through a consortium of non-profit organizations, including the Community Sponsorship Hub, Every Campus A Refuge, and the Institute of International Education, among others.
“Institutions and communities that open their doors to these students are enriched and transformed through the infusion of fresh perspectives,” said Dr. Miriam Feldblum, co-founder and executive director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
Changing life trajectories
As educational costs continue to rise globally, a stark divide emerges. Students in internally displaced persons camps in the Rakhine and Paletwa regions, which are home to nearly 60,000 war-displaced individuals, face an uncertain future, leading some to explore opportunities abroad or take on temporary employment.
With initiatives such as the Welcome Corps on Campus, refugee students witness the transformative power of education.
Opportunities for studying abroad can alter the life trajectories of many displaced individuals. It is now a matter of supporting these programs through institutional mechanisms.
