"Bridge of Hope": A New Initiative by UNHCR and AASTMT to Empower Refugees through Education
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) have launched a joint initiative, titled “Bridge of Hope,” aimed at empowering refugees through scholarship opportunities for undergraduate degrees.
This initiative reflects the commitment of AASTMT and UNHCR to promote values of "humanity and solidarity" by creating inclusive learning environments and facilitating sustainable solutions that enable refugees to build a better future through education.
The launch event was attended by prominent guests, including the Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Alexandria, Mazid bin Mohammed Al-Huwaishan, as well as representatives from the European Commission, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Embassy of Italy in Cairo, French Development Agency for North Africa, Egyptian Red Crescent Society, Swiss Development Cooperation, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
During the event, Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Representative in Egypt, emphasized that education is a fundamental right, especially during times of displacement and crises. She added that this partnership aims to support AASTMT in equipping refugees with tools to not only survive but also thrive, ultimately fostering self-reliance and contributing to the development of host communities.
AASTMT President, Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar Ismail Farag, expressed pride in this humanitarian partnership, stating: “This collaboration with UNHCR reinforces our shared commitment to create pathways and opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.” Dr. Abdel Ghafar described the initiative as a "beacon and window of hope" for refugees facing hardships, calling on stakeholders and donors to join this noble endeavor, saying, “Together, we can turn adversity into opportunity and build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.”
The scholarship program at AASTMT aims to achieve several core objectives, including fostering self-reliance and sustainable solutions by providing refugees access to quality education. The program also seeks to empower young men and women equally to contribute knowledge, skills, and leadership within their communities, promote diversity and inclusion within the academy, advance social and economic equality and gender equality, and support peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction in refugees’ home countries.