By Brenda Odhiambo

Last Friday, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa welcomed a delegation from the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), one of the Program’s technical partners that supports and facilitates access to higher education for refugee and forcibly displaced (RDP) young people.

Led by WUSC CEO Steve Mason, alongside Janice Bothello, Country Director for Kenya, and Chiedza Pasipanodya, Deputy Director of the DREEM Project and Ian Mwangi, Higher Education Inclusion Coordinator, the delegation engaged with Mastercard Foundation Scholars with backgrounds of forced displacement that are enrolled in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, underscoring the impact of strategic partnerships in fostering educational opportunities for vulnerable populations.

In his remarks, the Director, Advancement and Partnerships, Eannes Ongus, spoke about the Program’s efforts towards ensuring inclusivity in the recruitment of refugees and displaced young people in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. The Program, now in its fourth year of implementation, has a total of 147 Scholars with backgrounds of forced displacement, representing 18% of the 830 Mastercard Foundation Scholars currently recruited into the Program.

WUSC’s CEO, Steve Mason, reflecting on his personal journey and its alignment with WUSC's mission, reaffirmed the organization's dedication to effecting positive change in the lives of refugees globally. He underscored WUSC's unwavering commitment to promoting education as a catalyst for empowerment and sustainable development. His sentiments were reiterated by Janice Bothello, Country Director, Kenya, who emphasized both WUSC and USIU-Africa’s commitment to ensuring a supportive environment for refugee students, underlining WUSC's dedication to expanding opportunities for refugees across the continent.

The session provided a platform for these Mastercard Foundation Scholars to share their experiences within the Program at USIU-Africa, as well as their post-graduation aspirations centered on community engagement and social impact. The interactive dialogue included a Q&A session, enabling Mastercard Foundation Scholars to engage directly with the WUSC team, delving into topics such as educational investment, economic opportunities, and empowerment as pathways to durable solutions for young refugees.