Rome [Italy], November 17: A group of 51 refugees from Africa arrived in Italy on Wednesday to enroll in various universities in the country, the United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said in a statement.
They participate in a larger project that offers young talents from developing countries support and opportunities to continue their education abroad.
Called "University Corridors for Refugees" (UNICORE 4.0), the project's fourth edition is supported by the UNHCR, Italy's Foreign Ministry and several of the country's non-profit organizations.
In 2022, the project will involve 69 students from Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The 51 students who landed at Fiumicino Airport in Rome on Wednesday were the first to arrive. They will soon begin their studies at 33 Italian universities that take part in the program.
All the refugees will be exempt from tuition fees and will receive financial support for plane tickets and visa-related expenses, as well as a study grant to help them during their stay in Italy.
At global level, only some 5 percent of refugees have access to higher education compared to 38 percent among non-refugee populations, according to the UNHCR.
Source: Xinhua