22/08/23

UNHCR is pleased to announce an initiative with the Rwandan National Association of Deaf Women (RNADW “Umucyo”), alongside Humanity and Inclusion and Prison Fellowship Rwanda to provide an empowering opportunity for displaced individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as their dedicated family members and caregivers to learn Rwandan Sign Language. The course is also open to all community volunteers, mobilizers, and leaders.  

• Program Launch: August 26, 2023 
• Duration: 3 Months 
• Schedule: Saturday (9am-12pm) and Sunday (2pm-5pm) 
• Venue: Gikondo Community Center, Kigali 

By participating, you’re not only enriching your own life with a powerful skill but also contributing to bridge gaps and foster genuine connections between communities. Disability is not an individual problem but the result of barriers in society. Learning Rwandan sign language is an investment in yourself, your relationships, and your community.  

Register now to ensure your place in the class, as seats are limited to just 15 individuals per session. 

SMS/whatsapp Livingstone Kanyenyeri (HI) on +250 788 55 72 44 or at Gikondo Community Center or write an email to [email protected]  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS

UNHCR’s Tertiary Refugee Scholarship Programme (DAFI) offers qualified refugee and returnee (in selected countries*) students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum or home country. The scholarship package varies from country to country and covers a range of costs including tuition and study materials, food, transportation, and accommodation.

DAFI covers programmes at International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level 6, bachelor’s degrees or equivalent level qualifications. The scholarship is designed to provide students with academic and/or professional knowledge, skills, and competencies, leading to a first degree or equivalent qualification. DAFI can also cover short-cycle tertiary education, ISCED level 5 courses. This includes accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes of two years or more that lead to a certification or diploma.

DAFI scholars are expected to participate in community engagement and skills development activities linked to their studies. UNHCR, alongside its education partners, maintain close contact with each scholar and with the higher education institutions they study at to ensure the academic success and well-being of each student. The DAFI scholarship does NOT cover master’s studies.

In Rwanda, UNHCR has awarded over 500 DAFI scholarships to eligible refugees at a bachelor’s degree level. For the academic year 2023/2024, there are 40 new scholarships for qualified refugees and asylum-seekers in Rwanda. Students who meet the following eligibility criteria are invited to apply for this scholarship program by 15th September 2023.

MAIN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The applicant must be a recognized refugee or asylum seeker living in Rwanda.
• Priority will be given to those who achieved excellent academic performance.
• Applicant should have been accepted to a university in Rwanda. (You will have to submit proof of admission to a university.)
• Only one family member can apply/obtain DAFI scholarship to ensure that benefits allocated are equally given to other refugee students.
• Applicants currently benefiting from another scholarship programmes, for example, Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, Kepler, African Leadership university and so on are not eligible to apply for DAFI scholarship.
• Applicants who have been confirmed to depart for resettlement to third countries are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

SECONDARY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Priority for female applicants: One of UNHCR’s priorities is to increase the number of girls attending primary and post-primary education. In support of this policy, DAFI scholarships aims to maintain gender parity (of 50%) in tertiary education.
• Persons with specific needs: Refugee students with special education needs or members of vulnerable households with excellent academic records will be given special consideration during the selection of candidates.

APPLICATION FORM

All application should be submitted through online application form, available at the following link: https://unhcr-dafi-tertiary.scholarshipsplatform.com/

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BE ATTACHED OR UPLOADED

• Please attach your Proof of registration or ProGres number or Factsheet, or UNHCR asylum seeker certificate, UNHCR ID or Foreigner ID
• Please upload your official/certified copy of the high school diploma.
• Please upload university admission letter or proof of acceptance for study in one or more universities in Rwanda
• Please upload the equivalence certificate from the Ministry of Education of the country of asylum (optional)

TIMEFRAME

Applications will be received from 21 August to 15th of September 2023. Application submitted after the deadline will not be processed.

If you encounter any difficulties accessing internet connectivity or require technical assistance for uploading the required documents, kindly reach out to the nearest Digital Career Counselors or Community Centers in your vicinity.

For any inquiries, please contact us via [email protected] and [email protected]

16/08/23

UNHCR would like to inform refugees in Rwanda that the organization is facing budget cuts in all sectors including healthcare services. Unfortunately, funding is only available for UNHCR to support referrals to hospitals for emergency and lifesaving interventions.   If you are a camp-based refugee in need of medical transfers to hospitals outside of the camp, please follow up with UNHCR’s health partner – Save the Children – at the field level.

For urban refugees, UNHCR has facilitated the enrollment in Community Based Health Insurance where you only need to pay 10% of the total cost. If you have not received SMS informing you are enrolled, please contact your nearest community center, email us at [email protected] or call the following phone contacts: 0788302718/788383608/0788313705

31/07/23:

UNHCR is pleased to inform all urban refugees and boarding school students that Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) enrollment for July 2023 to June 2024 has been completed. In line with the Government of Rwanda’s pledge to include urban refugees in CBHI, UNHCR has submitted a list of following criteria to be enrolled to CBHI: 

• Recognized refugees with valid ID who live in urban setting including their dependents under the age of 16. 
• Camp-based students who are pursuing their education outside of camps supported by UNHCR or/and other education partners. 

UNHCR has sent SMS to the registered number of everyone enrolled toor/o CBHI. If you believe that you are eligible and have not received the SMS, please contact Protection Desk at the closest Community Centers, or call our helpline 0788302718/0788381857, or send us an email with your name, ID Card Number, UNHCR Number and valid telephone number to [email protected].  

For students who live outside of the camp, you may contact World Vision or your school. 

If you have been granted refugee status by the Government of Rwanda but have not yet received your Refugee ID card, or if you have recently changed your refugee ID card and have not informed UNHCR, kindly visit the nearest protection desk at community center or contact our protection helpline/email above. Please remember to indicate your name, UNHCR’s registration number and your ID number when you reach out to UNHCR. 

Please note that due to funding limitations, UNHCR is not able to cover all medical expenses for eligible refugees who were not enrolled to CBHI. UNHCR’s limited medical funding is prioritized for live-saving interventions for refugees and asylum seekers not covered by CBHI. 

Do not wait to get sick to check your CBHI enrollment!