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DAFI ALUMNI NETWORK WORLDWIDE

Through a student and alumni network the DAFI students can stay in touch during and after their studies. In June 2009, a workshop to encourage and facilitate the creation of a DAFI Alumni Network in all countries with DAFI scholarship programmes was held in Tanzania. During the workshop, participants exchanged experience and best practices about existing DAFI Clubs and alumni associations. The workshop initiated the formation of many new clubs to keep students and graduates in contact.

In a number of countries, such as Kenya, Tanzania, Benin and Senegal, DAFI Clubs have become a lively and active part of student life. They meet regularly and include DAFI alumni in their activities, they provide help and orientation for new students, organize trips, retreats and excursions, publicize books or booklets in which they share their experience as refugees, participate in World Refugee Day anniversaries and assist in refugee community learning activities in many ways. Some clubs have established partnerships beyond UNHCR and implementing partners, and benefit from partner support and activities.

DAFI CLUBS

DAFI Clubs are part of the broader student and alumni network. They are institutionalized associations of former and current DAFI scholars can exchange experiences and information and together increase the impact they have. There are currently more than ten DAFI Clubs in countries with DAFI programmes and their number is continuously growing.

CLUB'S ACTIVITIES

The DAFI Club in Benin organized an annual retreat involving current and former DAFI Scholars, secondary graduates, the German Embassy and the National Agency for Employment. The retreat provided a dynamic platform for all participants to exchange experiences, gain information about tertiary education as well as the DAFI Programme, and participate in courses on CV writing and career counseling.

In Tanzania, the Scholars have established DAFISOTA (DAFI Scholars in Tanzania) with different chapters at each of the 16 universities. At the start of the academic year, members of DAFISOTA welcome the new Scholars at their university and organize an orientation week.

Tanzania is also home of the World DAFI Association (WDA), the association for all students and graduates supported by DAFI. WDA is an officially registered NGO in Tanzania, currently conducting seminars and workshops for training in entrepreneurship and HIV/AIDS in different areas including refugee camps in the Kigoma region.

In Kenya, DAFI Graduates have established a strong network among the returnees to Southern Sudan. Many of them have filled positions in the Southern Sudanese official structure, as well as in local and international organizations.

Members of the DAFI Club in India are actively involved in an ongoing school enrolment campaign.

Members of the DAFI Club in Rwanda are mentors for younger children and support refugee education by offering catch-up classes for primary and secondary education as well as delivering talks on HIV/AIDS prevention.

In Senegal, the DAFI Club organizes educational as well as leisure time events such as football matches or visits of the Goethe Institute.

After having successfully and durably established active DAFI Clubs, the next challenge is linking local initiatives across country borders and sharing good practices with other DAFI operations and partners.

DAFI SCHOLARS CONNECT ON FACEBOOK

Facebook LIKE feature is a forum for all DAFI alumni and current students to stay connected, discuss and exchange experiences with each other.

For those of you, who are/were no DAFI students but would like to support the DAFI program, come join the DAFI Facebook LIKE webpage!

Click here to LIKE DAFI Scholars on Facebook

DAFI YOUTUBE VIDEOS

All DAFI Scholars are encouraged to visit the newly launched DAFI Scholars YouTube videos website... and to submit videos they wish to share with the Refugee Education and DAFI community.

View DAFI Scholars YouTube videos

DAFI SCHOLARS' BLOG

You are welcome to visit the DAFI Scholars blog website—an online community where DAFI Scholars are invited to share thoughts, articles, information as well as connect. We therefore urge all DAFI Scholars and other refugee students to focus on the positive aspect of life in order to help make the world a better place for all. The blog site forum is officially launched. We look forward to your postings. Please invite all others to join in making the DAFI Forum a success.

Visit the DAFI Scholars blog website