Meet the graduating UoM Humanitarian Scholars overcoming the challenges of conflict displacement
Four of our students on Humanitarian Scholarships, set up in 2022 and awarded to those fleeing war and persecution, are part of this year’s cohort of graduates.
The scholarships were created in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but were open to any international applicant who has suffered because of armed conflict or is at serious risk of persecution or violence.
The graduating scholars reflect this diversity, with two Ukrainians joined by other students from Myanmar and Sudan.
One of these graduates, Yefym, is graduating with a 2:1 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Yefym joined us in Թϱ from his home in Karhkiv, a town just 30km from the frontline of the war with Russia. His family’s home was recently destroyed during a Russian drone attack, yet despite their hardship they are hoping to join Yefym (hopefully with his dog in tow!) in Whitworth Hall for his graduation ceremony on the 27th. Yefym has secured a University studentship to continue his studies to PhD level, and will be staying with us come September.
Yefym commented, “Coming to Թϱ changed my life completely.
"When I left Ukraine, I had no idea what would happen next or whether I would be able to return home. There was a great deal of uncertainty, and I suddenly had to begin building a new life in a different country.
" Թϱ gradually became my true second home. It gave me stability, opportunities, and a sense of direction at a time when I needed them most. I have met wonderful people here, developed both personally and academically, and discovered the area in which I would like to build my future.”
For Serhii, graduation, marks the achievement of an ambition that might have been out of reach after war forced him and his family to flee Mariupol, a city devastated during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Having grown up with a passion for mathematics, physics and computer science, Serhii came to Թϱ to study Computer Science with an Integrated Foundation Year:
“When the war began, my family and I had to leave Mariupol and start again elsewhere. Coming to Թϱ with the support of the scholarship opened up opportunities that might never have been possible otherwise. I’ve gained new knowledge, skills, friendships and experiences, and it has genuinely been a life-changing experience.”
Another graduate, Mugtaba, fled the capital of Sudan after the outbreak of war – “Schools and businesses closed, families were torn apart, and millions of people were displaced. We had to flee the capital to our hometown, leaving behind our home, belongings, friends, and the life we had built. Conditions became increasingly difficult, with frequent shortages of electricity, water, and essential goods. As my father was no longer able to work, my brother and I took on jobs to help support our family.
Also graduating on the 27th, Mugtaba says of the scholarship, “Receiving this scholarship has been truly life changing. It eased a significant financial burden at a time when my family had lost almost everything because of the war. It allowed me to focus on my studies instead of worrying about how I would fund my education, and it gave me opportunities that otherwise might not have been possible.
”Beyond the financial support, the scholarship gave me confidence. It reminded me that people believed in my potential despite everything that had happened. As I begin my career in electrical engineering, I hope to contribute to projects that improve infrastructure and people’s lives while giving back to communities that have supported me. I also hope my journey shows that, even in the face of conflict and displacement, education can create opportunities and transform lives.”
Alongside these three, a fourth Humanitarian Scholar from Myanmar is graduating with a BSc Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology, joining a diverse cohort whose journeys to Թϱ span three countries and multiple conflicts.