Dutch UAF Award: four of the six nominees come from Syria

Six former students with a refugee background are competing for the Dutch UAF Award 2021. No fewer than four of them come from Syria. The prize is intended for students with a refugee background who know how to distinguish themselves.

The UAF Award is an annual prize created by the UAF Foundation. This foundation assists students with a refugee background. The prize is intended for students or professionals who have distinguished themselves through their study and work results. In this way, UAF draws attention to talent among refugees.

“It takes a lot of courage and perseverance to flee your country and start over in an unfamiliar environment,” says UAF director Mardjan Seighali from personal experience. According to her, not all refugees get the chance to show what they are capable of. “The nominees for the UAF Award are living proof that a lot is possible if you do get such an opportunity.”

Although the UAF mentors people from dozens of countries, four of the six nominees are from Syria. That is no coincidence, says UAF spokesman Jasper Vink. Many Syrian refugees have come to the Netherlands since 2014 and a relatively large part of them had already received a higher education.

The nominees introduce themselves on the UAF website, where you can also vote. The results will be announced on November 4. The winner will receive a training program of their choice worth four thousand euros.

(DUB)