Refugee Scholarship Program - Bread for the World  

Introduction to the project 

Country

Germany 

Duration

Scholarship Programs have been provided since 2005, and specifically for refugees since 2014. The program is currently financed until 2021, and renewal is desirable if additional funding can be secured.

Description 

The programme is designed for refugee women who have fled to Germany from their countries of origin for political/religious/ethnic reasons or because of their sexual orientation. The support provided by Brot für die Welt includes:

• Financial support to obtain a degree (bachelor’s or master’s degree; state examination; doctorate in exceptional cases) in Germany
• Empowerment to pursue development, social and charitable work in the refugee community and in German society
• Opportunities for networking between the scholarship holders, Brot für die Welt and various civil society networks
• Study accompanying programme includes various seminars on socially relevant topics e.g. Empowerment Seminars

Through their volunteer work or their professional role as change agents, the young women contribute to social justice and ecologically sustainable development in Germany and the Global South. Their commitment also helps to promote an inclusive society in Germany.

Examples from two scholarship holders: 

1. A Cameroonian scholar reported corruption and embezzlement of state funds in a ministry and was jailed for one and a half years without trial. When he was released, he sued for rehabilitation and damages, but received credible death threats. He fled to Germany and studied Environmental Management in a Master's program, finishing his Master's thesis with a grade of 1.3 (Distinction). After completing his scholarship, he completed a traineeship with the Federal Press Office arranged by Bread for the World. He is currently looking for a doctorate position in the field of renewable energies.  

2. A freelance journalist for Iranian newspapers reported several times on the lives of persecuted homosexual and transgender people in Iran. At a meeting, she was arrested, imprisoned, tortured and abused. Before being imprisoned, she managed to escape to Germany. As a single Iranian woman, she was repeatedly exposed to the reprisals of her compatriots in refugee reception centres. She learned German quickly and enthusiastically, and successfully completed her studies in social work after receiving scholarship support. She continues to produce articles and videos, is a member of "Writers in Exile", gives lectures on women's rights in Iran, and now works as a social worker in a Cologne women's shelter and has declared it her personal call to educate Persian women about their rights. 

Project aims

To provide scholarships for higher education to refugees facing persecution or violence in their country of origin.  

Resources used

The cost is approximately €23,500 per Scholarship holder per year, with an average duration of support of three years, on a needs basis. These costs include a monthly allowance payment of  €992,00, an annual allowance for university equipment, insurance, and regular seminars and excursions for the participants.

Additional allowances are granted based on need, for example, for family members, psychological assistance, or legal support in the asylum process.

Currently, thirty students are funded through the Scholarship programme for Refugee Women and Refugees from Ukraine.  

Partners 

Co-funded by Federal Foreign Ministry, Germany  

Challenges and how they were overcome

In case of pending or unclear residence permit status, potential deportation of scholarship holders presented challenges, and trauma and/or psychological long-term effects can emerge during the entire time of support. Challenges were overcome by: 

• Personal support from a Brot für die Welt programme officer, who can respond quickly and put you in touch with the relevant advice centres
• By referring students to professional psychotherapy  

Results of the Good Practice

With the help of Scholarships for higher education, refugees receive:  

• Financial support to complete a higher education degree
• Social connection with the help of common events, regular one-on one conversation
• Language classes 
• Study accompanying programme
• Priority in the selection of scholarship recipients is given to marginalized groups, such as women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, human rights activists, and religious or ethnic minorities
• Link to Evangelische Studierendengemeinden (ESG) or Diakonische Werke