“Becoming Who You Are - Studying Despite Displacement” exhibition in Berlin

15x30

UNHCR has set an ambitious goal for 2030: to increase the number of refugees enrolled in universities worldwide. The figures are clear: considering the 18-24 age group, the percentage of young people enrolled in university worldwide is 42%. For refugees, this figure drops to 7% (Source: UNHCR).  

To achieve the goal of 15% refugee enrollment in higher education institutions by 2030, UNHCR has implemented various actions. Raising awareness among European citizens on this issue is undoubtedly one of these actions, and is also one of the objectives of the exhibition "Becoming Who You Are - Studying Despite Displacement."

The location in Berlin

Not far from the renowned Checkpoint Charlie, a reminder of a past much closer than one might like to think, in a contemporary and evocative building, lies the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation.

Dedicated to the history of forced migrations from the 20th century onwards, the Centre hosts a permanent exhibition telling the stories of displaced groups: “from Belgians evacuated to the Netherlands as World War I broke out to Germans forced westwards as the Red Army advanced through Poland and Czechoslovakia in the later stages of WWII to forced migrations in Rwanda and Bosnia in the 1990s and modern day Syria.”

Philipp Krüger, Head of exhibition for the Documentation Centre, describes it as a place to think about reconciliation and encounter - and what better way to do so, than by connecting the past with the present, the here with the elsewhere?

Until October 13th, the Centre will host a temporary exhibition created with UNHCR Germany, about displaced students. Special exhibitions on the subject of flight and displacement are shown there every year.

The exhibition

Inaugurated in April, the exhibition "Becoming Who You Are - Studying Despite Displacement" showcases the stories of 20 refugees who, with the support of UNHCR, were able to pursue university education in 10 different countries. The students themselves narrate their personal journeys, which are presented alongside the context of the host country where they had this valuable opportunity: “UNHCR photographer Antoine Tardy took the photos and compiled the individual stories between 2017 and 2021 in the host countries of Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Mexico, Rwanda, Zambia, Chad and Uganda. There, the students had found temporary or permanent refuge.” (Source: UNHCR, panel at the exhibition)

After an introduction providing essential information about refugee access to higher education, visitors are guided through five thematic sections that organize the stories. At the center of the exhibition, the experience becomes interactive through a role-playing activity that encourages visitors to reflect on their own lives, using key terms such as displacement, school, and family.

Talking images 

Antoine Tardyis a freelance documentary photographer based in Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in reportage and portraiture for the not-for-profit and public sectors. He works locally, nationally and internationally for clients such as UN agencies, NGOs, foundations and more. Since 2017, he has documented, for UNHCR, the higher education journeys of over 300 students and alumni in 17 countries around the world. 

Antoine uses the power of images to tell human stories against prejudice.

The Author asked for his comment to the beautiful work created for the exhibition:  “Through this project, we have tried to deconstruct the general understanding of who – or what – a refugee person is. By showing the dignity and individuality of the people we have portrayed, in the most nuanced manner possible, our intention has been to shift the public’s perception from notions of vulnerability, dependence or suffering towards the ones of power, self-determination and shared humanity.”

Higher education and resilience

The centrality of education in the process of rebuilding the lost self of refugees is not only well illustrated by the protagonists of the exhibition, but also extensively discussed in the existing scientific literature on the subject.

Higher education “brings daily structured activity and purpose” (Refugee Support Network 2012) and it can turn students into leaders, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging again (ESU 2024).

Education represents a way to take back part of the things refugees had to leave behind. In this sense, it is a form of empowerment and resistance, a bridge between chaos and stability. 

The DAFI programme 

The majority of the students featured in the exhibition have benefited from the DAFI programme. Since 1992, the DAFI (“Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative”) scholarship programme has been active in 59 countries and has enabled more than 26,300 refugees to obtain a university degree. Thanks to the support of the governments of Germany, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, as well as UNHCR and private donors, the scholarship allows refugees to cover the costs of tuition fees, books, transportation, accommodation, language courses, and academic preparatory programmes. Furthermore, DAFI has established a strong network of student clubs and alumni, who provide support to scholarship recipients.

Conclusions

As Mascha Hotopp, project manager for UNHCR Germany and co-curator of the exhibition, well said: “With this exhibition, we wanted to raise awareness among the wider public about the importance of access to higher education for refugees worldwide. Access to universities may not always be seen as a priority in displacement settings, but it is crucial for many young refugees to build a better future and to contribute to the host community, for example as doctors, teachers, or engineers.”

Education is not only a human right: it is a tool for empowerment and resilience. 

“Higher education is not a luxury, but a right and a necessity, both for individuals and for society. Its benefits cannot be overstated: it is strongly linked to an individual’s increased future opportunities, and an educated population is crucial both in countries where refugees resettle, as well as countries affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Refugees and immigrants contribute significantly to their newly resettled communities and societies, and refugees who receive higher education often play critical roles in rebuilding after conflict or disaster.” (The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers - AACRAO 2019).

As one of the refugees interviewed for the exhibition declares: “Education enables us to take our destiny into our own hands”.

The Author invites everybody to visit the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation and its exhibitions, and also to share this article: even these small actions can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations 15x30 goal.