Fundraising campaign for #UABRefugi

21/06/2019

As part of the UAB refugee welcome programme, managed by the Fundació Autònoma Solidària, the #UABRefugi Grants will facilitate accessing and continuing higher education studies for students who were forced to flee their county and abandon their studies. All members of the university community can participate by making a donation.

According to the latest CCAR report, published on World Refugee Day, in just the first five months of 2019 Spain has registered 46,000 applications for asylum. In addition to the more than 100,000 applications pending to be approved, this demonstrates the extension of the refugee crisis; one which the university aims to contribute to mitigating. From a human rights' viewpoint, the university is seen as an inclusive agent and key element of social transformation which contributes to improving the process of integrating and including individuals seeking refuge.

Refugee and Student?
The people forced to flee their homes due to persecutions, violence or the violation of rights can be very different, but they are all looking for a safe place in which they can carry out their life project with dignity and guarantees.

During their migration process, they often must also leave behind their university studies and therefore, their projects for the future. Although they may fulfil the requirements to study at university, less than 1% of refugee students are able to access the university. Those who achieve to overcome challenges and continue their studies are faced with having to validate documents and passing administrative procedures, and difficulties in finding work and economic instability, which prevents them from being able to maintain themselves while they study. Women refugees are the group with the greatest amount of difficulties in entering and staying at university, given their double dimension of being women and migrants.

Characteristics of the #UABRefugi Grants
In this first call for the 2019/20 academic year, up to 10 people will be able to benefit from a grant through the UAB Refugee Welcome Programme to continue their undergraduate or postgraduate studies at the UAB.

The monetary aid, as well as free enrolment for these students, will be 1000 to 1500 euros and will help to pay for study-related costs such as transport, food or university material.

Crowdfunding Campaign
The campaign began on 20 June, coinciding with World Refugee Day. However, in the past months the #UABRefugi grants have received help from two important entities which have aided in getting closer to the objective of raising 15,000 euros. The first donation was made by the participants of the UAB Games, organised by the Physical Activity Service of the UAB, and the second donation came from the tickets sold for the 50th anniversary concert held at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona.