UNESCO Qualifications Passport gives hope to Zambian students who fled conflict in Sudan

27-year-old Asiya Mana was in the final year of her bachelor’s degree programme in pharmacy at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan when she had to flee violence without being able to obtain any official documents that recognize and validate her studies. 

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t complete my studies due to the ongoing conflict in the country,” says Asiya. “I stopped my studies in my final year. I had to come back to Zambia without possessing any official and physical documents which made it very difficult for me to continue my studies at local universities in Zambia.”   

With the qualifications passport now secured, Asiya is reassured that she will finally be able to complete her studies and eventually pursue a master’s degree. “My dream is to open my own pharmacy,” she says. 

After this experience, Asiya says she will always be an advocate for the UQP Initiative: “After losing so much hope, the UNESCO Qualifications Passport is a really a great opportunity for me as a student: It will enable me to complete my studies and get jobs afterwards.”

Asiya’s message to other people who are living in similar situations is to never lose hope: "Everything shall come to pass because there are people out there willing to help us and better our lives, just like the UNESCO Qualification Passport initiative. “

Zambia was a pioneer and the first country to adopt the UNESCO Qualifications Passport in 2019. There are now 93 successful applicants in the country, which is the highest number in the world. 

Farook Yona Banda, 32-year-old, had just graduated with his bachelor’s degree in economics at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, and was waiting for the certification of his credentials when conflict erupted in Sudan.  

“After completing my studies, I received the diploma from the university and was in the process of completing the certification process with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan as this was a requirement,” he says. “It became difficult to complete the process with the ongoing conflict, and because most government offices and the university were all inaccessible.”

Farook was evacuated and returned to Zambia without the required documentations that certified his university diploma. “This proved to be difficult for us to either continue or upgrade our studies in our local and international universities, and likewise difficult to access the labour market,” he says.

The qualifications passport has provided hope to Farook, at a time when his ambitions and dreams were starting to seem distant and fade away. “The UQP helped me get my qualification recognized and validated when all that seemed impossible,” he says. 

After all the time he spent pursuing and earning his credentials, he is eager to finally chase his ambitions. “I would like to start a transportation business, and also work in real estate to help improve the living standards of people,” he says. “I also would like to establish schools to help citizens in need, including refugees.”

Farook is now determined to continue a master’s degree programme at a local or foreign university.  He says that the UQP has given him a boost of confidence.  

"My message to those who are displaced like us: As long as you are still breathing and there is still humanity that strives for peace and well-being, never lose your hope, whether you are in a local or foreign land,” says Farook.