Rania grew up in in the bustling city of Cairo, in a close-knit family with her sister and mother. She originally worked as a teacher for three years before turning to journalism. She also worked for several NGOs and as a human rights activist. But in 2015, after writing in opposition to a well-known figure after the military coup, it became impossible for her to stay in Egypt and she came to Germany as a political refugee.
“Being a refugee is a heavy load as you always have to prove that you are good enough to learn and to integrate into the new society”
Raina
As part of a collaboration between the H&M Foundation and Kiron Open Higher Education, the project BLESS (Building a Learning Environment for Study Success) was developed. The project aims to increase access to higher education for refugees in Germany. It has a multi-pronged approach:
- creating study groups,
- making design changes,
- organising seminal events that students could really engage in, such as Women’s Week.
Carrying a heavy load
One important aspect is also to provide the students with a sense of community with each other. Thanks to this project, Rania says she has had the chance to connect with other students who are dealing with many of the same challenges she is.
“Sometimes you just need support and inspiration from other students when you are trying to change the course of your studies, especially in new languages. I can relate to many of the other Kiron students because many of the obstacles we face are the same, since we are all coming from different educational and cultural backgrounds.”
Dealing with stereotypes, generalizations and discrimination are also part of the everyday experience. “On a personal level, it is difficult to start everything from scratch, to build a network, and to stay positive while trying to overcome a trauma. Being a refugee is a heavy load as you always have to prove that you are good enough to learn and to integrate into the new society”, Raina says.
“The Kiron students I have met are so highly motivated, and I feel like if they can do it, I can too.”
Raina
Currently, Rania is enrolled in full-time German and English courses, as well as studying political science with Kiron, and taking additional preparatory courses at Bard College in Berlin. Her goal is to become an academic researcher in the field of political science and eventually, she would like to enroll in a Ph.D. program related to political activism.
“The Kiron students I have met are so highly motivated, and I feel like if they can do it, I can too.”
