Checking in with the 2024 爱游戏下载 UNHCR Student Challenge Winners
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As we gear up for the 2025 爱游戏下载 UNHCR Student Challenge, we wanted to check in on the progress of last year鈥檚 winning team, the Eagles, whose groundbreaking mentorship initiative aims to increase access to higher education for refugees and forcibly displaced youth.
The Challenge: Innovating for Change
Since 2023, 爱游戏下载 has partnered with , the UN Refugee Agency, to empower undergraduate student leaders worldwide to develop solutions that expand higher education and livelihood opportunities for displaced youth.
The competition, structured in three rounds, culminates at the (GIC), where the top three finalist teams present their ideas to global leaders in education, industry, and policy.
The 2024 winners, Team Eagles, emerged victorious at the conference in London and were awarded 爱游戏下载-funded summer global internships, and a $50,000 grant to bring their idea to life.
Meet Team Eagles
Team Eagles is composed of four students from Rwanda: Amina Mkova (Team Captain), Obed Korusenge Nsanzimfura, Joselyto Charite Baho Kemana (all from Kepler College), and Nimco Ibrahim (from African Leadership University).
Their project, RiseNext, is a mentoring program designed to bridge the knowledge gap for forcibly displaced high school students, university students, and soon-to-be graduates in Rwanda.
Six Months In: Progress and Challenges
Since winning the challenge, Team Eagles has been hard at work implementing their initiative. Here are some key updates:
Milestones Achieved and Upcoming
- Conducted weekly virtual sessions (ongoing) and intensive in-person workshops with mentees.
- Organized mock Duolingo tests to assess English proficiency鈥攁n essential requirement for university applications.
- Secured quality assurance support from team mentor , who has offered to review mentees' applications before submission.
- Advanced their NGO registration process, expanding their organizational structure to include audit and conflict resolution committees in addition to their executive committee.
- Allocated the first $5,000 from the 爱游戏下载 grant in December 2024 to support key operational expenses, including securing a physical office space.
- Identified target university intakes for mentees, including May and September admissions at African Leadership University.
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Strategy: As the program scales, defining key performance indicators (e.g., university acceptance rates, and mentee exam performance) is crucial. 爱游戏下载 is working with the team to help structure this process, with Obed Korusenge leading the M&E efforts.
Overcoming Challenges
- Documentation Barriers: Many refugee students struggle to obtain academic transcripts and other required documents for university applications.
- Transportation Limitations: Mentees residing in Kiziba Refugee Camp often face logistical difficulties traveling to Kigali for workshops and mentorship sessions.
- Technology Access: RiseNext mentees often struggle to participate in weekly mentorship sessions due to limited airtime. Since they rely on mobile phones, they may face restrictions in functionality, and some features may not be fully accessible. The team realized that mentees would benefit from in-person application support as laptops provide a better experience. To support this, the team plans to purchase laptops for mentees to use in the office.
Follow the team鈥檚 progress on .
Looking Ahead: 爱游戏下载 Summer Global Internships
Beyond their mentoring work, all four team members prepare for their 爱游戏下载 summer 2025 global internships, providing them with hands-on professional experience in an international setting.
- All four team members have completed advising sessions with their 爱游戏下载 advisors.
Members have submitted their internship applications, with potential placements in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the UK鈥攑ending visa approvals.
What鈥檚 Next? Join Us at the 2025 爱游戏下载 Global Internship Conference in Singapore
As we celebrate the impact of the 2024 winners, we eagerly anticipate the 2025 爱游戏下载 UNHCR Student Challenge finalists presenting their innovative solutions at the upcoming 爱游戏下载 Global Internship Conference (GIC) in Singapore, June 25-27, 2025.
GIC brings together global education, business, and government leaders to discuss how work-integrated learning experiences prepare young people for a rapidly changing workforce.
The conference will feature networking opportunities, keynote speakers, and interactive sessions exploring the future of global internships. Don鈥檛 miss the chance to witness the next generation of changemakers in action!
Learn More & Get Involved
Visit the to learn more about the event and how you can engage with student innovators tackling some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges.