Unlocking Opportunities: Bahati’s Journey to Higher Education

Every year, July 15 marks World Youth Skills Day celebrating the importance of equipping youth with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. For refugees, skills can be a way to unlock a better future. To mark the Day, we spoke with Bahati Mnyaci, a refugee student who gained a scholarship at Luiss University in Italy thanks to his skills, qualifications and dedication. As he prepares to graduate with his Master’s degree, he shares his inspiring journey of resilience which led him to seek educational opportunities that would change his life:

Can you speak briefly about your background?

My name is Bahati and I am originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At the age of nine, my whole world was shattered, and I became a refugee. One day, while I was playing with my friends at the lake, we heard gunshots. This was the start of a conflict that is still ravaging my country. In search of safety, my brother, my sister and I joined other people escaping on boats. After sailing for many days, we first arrived in Zambia and later in Zimbabwe where we obtained refugee status. Life there was hard, and education was a beacon of hope. With great support from my brother, I managed to go to school. As we relied on aid, I almost had to drop my studies at the last year of my undergraduate degree. I applied for the DAFI scholarship, which allowed me to complete my studies and graduate with honours in business management. Then, I started applying for a graduate degree. I was accepted to universities in Germany, Ireland, and other countries, but could not go without a scholarship. This is when I found out about UNICORE, a scholarship programme that supports refugee study in Italy. I was selected for the scholarship, and now here I am about to graduate at the end of this month with a master’s degree in Global Management and Politics at Luiss University in Rome.

Why did you choose Global Management and Politics studies?

In Zimbabwe, I founded an organization called “Change Agents Advocacy”. Since 2018, we have been running advocacy campaigns, mentorship programmes, and trainings to support refugee girls, and organizing socio-economic empowerment programmes to teach them about income generation. We have also run campaigns to sensitize local communities on the importance of education for refugee youth. Realizing that this was the path I want to follow, I decided to study Global Management and Politics to understand the critical issues of today’s world and apply this knowledge to my work. 

How has the UNICORE scholarship impacted your life?

The scholarship has given me the chance to put my skills and knowledge to use. Back in the refugee camp, I was feeling like a plane without a runway, as if my path to success was put on hold. My degree helps me grow professionally to continue advocating for forcibly displaced people in different fora, and helping influence policies that affect their lives. On a personal level, I can use some of my scholarship allowance to support my mother with food, medicine, and other needs.

Did you face any challenges along the way and how did you address them?

Adapting to the local culture and lifestyle was hard at the beginning. To help me better integrate and blend in, I joined the university rugby team. My sport identity is something that no one can take away from me; sports helped understand the culture and taught me how best to contribute to my new community.

I was also supported by my university. When you are still new, you don’t even know where your classroom is, you don’t speak the language or don’t know how to open a bank account. Upon my arrival, the university matched me with a buddy, a fellow student who provided valuable support with logistics and integration. In addition, they offered UNICORE beneficiaries a welcome desk with mentors, mental health support, a career service, and gave us the chance to do extra lessons if we needed help with some courses. An NGO supporting UNICORE, Caritas International, assisted me with transport and healthcare, and gave me a monthly allowance for my expenses.

Bahati Mnyaci, DAFI scholar and CEO of Change Agents Advocacy, addresses the linked event ‘Youth Leadership in Action: Expanding access to higher education and self reliance for refugees: 15by30’, one of many discussions at the Global Refugee Forum 2023.

Based on your experience, what are some key changes that can help more refugees reach university campuses?

I would start with immigration policies; refugee students on international scholarship programmes need to have a pathway to employment upon graduation. Also, the recognition of prior experience and qualifications is essential; the time and effort that refugees have put into developing themselves - personally and professionally – and completing a degree, training programme or work experience should be valued. We also need policies to counter racism and xenophobia; I was lucky to make great friends with my classmates - while being the only person from Africa in my course - but this is not everyone’s experience. It’s important to sensitize local communities about refugee issues and treat everyone equally.

What inspired you to become a refugee advocate?

Realising that there are not many refugee voices speaking about forced displacement, I told myself I need to do something about it. When I joined the DAFI programme, I was elected committee president, representing refugee students in events and conferences and speaking about the value of tertiary education. I also attended a six-month UNHCR public speaking, advocacy, and leadership training to hone my advocacy skills. Since then, I have been invited to speak in conferences around the world. In my current role as a member of the Refugee Advisory Group to the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP), I’m advocating for more resettlement places and safe pathways for refugees.

One of my proudest moments was speaking at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 about investing in education to boost refugee self-reliance. Earlier that year, I had addressed the European Parliament speaking to stakeholders funding refugee education. My very presence there was a testament of the impact of their funding – I would not be in the room if it was not for a scholarship. I reminded them about the many talented refugees stuck in camps; there are many Albert Einsteins, Elon Musks, and Lionel Messis in those camps waiting to be given an opportunity to unleash their potential and make this world a better place for all.

Recently you spoke about refugee travel documents in an ID4Africa workshop and the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways. How does this link with your advocacy work on education pathways?

Refugee travel documents are essential for refugees to be able to study internationally. A valid travel document simplifies the university application process and facilitates international travel, allowing students to apply for a visa and reach their destinations. Also, refugee travel documents are useful in the country of study when opening a bank account, for immigration or other procedures that require a form of identity. Refugee travel documents are also a protection tool, keeping refugees safe from the risk of refoulement. For me, having a refugee travel document means having peace of mind; I also know I can use it to visit my family in Zimbabwe when I can.

What advice would you give to other refugee students?

The key is knowing your purpose; it might not be easy, but you need to ask yourself if what you do makes you happy, if it helps change people’s lives, and whether it adds value to you and the people around you. Once you find your purpose, you can set your goals and work towards achieving them. Challenges of all sorts – financial, mental, social - will come your way. But all you need to do is focus. For me, focus is an abbreviation of “follow one course until success”. So, my advice would be to never give up. Be determined, tenacious and committed, and do your best until you arrive where you want to be.

Refugees might have been forced to leave their homes behind, but they bring with them their skills and competences. Investing in their potential by expanding safe pathways and other third country solutions, including by joining multi-stakeholder pledges, means investing to a sustainable future for all.