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Jean Marie: Hope for a better future
“The UNESCO Qualifications Passport has given me back the hope that life can change,” says Jean Marie, a Burundian economist, who received his qualifications passport in March 2026, together with 22 other new recipients in Uganda.
When Jean Marie arrived in Uganda in 2015, he had already completed his undergraduate studies in Burundi. But like many fleeing conflict, he left without his diploma.
In Nakivale refugee settlement, the absence of this single document shaped the next ten years of his life. Without proof of his qualifications, access to further education and meaningful employment remained out of reach.
Receiving the UNESCO Qualifications Passport in 2026 marked a turning point and Jean Marie is hoping to continue his studies in project monitoring and evaluation.
Now 41, Jean Marie is once again looking ahead. He hopes to continue his studies in project management and development, focusing on agriculture and small enterprises, areas he believes can strengthen communities like his own.
Faida: Rebuilding a career in exile
When Faida arrived in Uganda in 2015, she brought with her years of education and professional experience. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she earned a degree in chemistry and biology before working as a nurse in several hospitals across the country.
But conflict forced her to leave her home and start over in Uganda. For the past eleven years, she has lived in Rwamwanja refugee settlement.
It was there that she first learned about the UNESCO Qualifications Passport (UQP), which she received in 2024 and describes as an important step forward.
The UQP is a valuable document for us refugees who are forced to leave our country and move elsewhere. It serves as proof of what we studied and where we worked, and it facilitates looking for a job.
While she continues to search for work in her field, Faida is encouraging other displaced people in the settlement to apply for the UQP. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of proving qualifications across borders, she sees the passport as a practical tool that can help refugees reconnect with their education, professional experience and future aspirations.
Gustave: Continuing despite disruption
Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gustave completed his secondary education in 2008 before continuing his studies in Burundi. There, he specialized in industrial engineering, focusing on computer science and telecommunications, and graduated in 2013.
But stability was short-lived. After returning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict forced him to flee once again. By 2015, he had settled in Uganda.
In Nakivale, Gustave found a way to contribute. Between 2016 and 2019, he worked as a secondary school teacher, sharing knowledge even while his own professional path remained uncertain. This is where he first heard about the UNESCO Qualifications Passport and received it in 2026.
Today, Gustave is focused on building on what he started. In a field that continues to evolve rapidly, he hopes to deepen his knowledge in technology and find work that reflects his training and experience.
Lévi: A path that continues to unfold
For some, the impact of the UNESCO Qualifications Passport unfolds over time.
Lévi, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was one of the first to receive the UNESCO Qualifications Passport in 2021 while living in the Meheba refugee settlement in Zambia.
With it, he was able to move to Italy in December 2022 to begin a master’s degree in communication, technology and multimedia at the University of Brescia.
Although he completed his first year, medical complications forced him to return to Zambia in August 2024, leaving his studies unfinished.
But his journey did not stop there.
Building on an idea he had first developed years earlier, Lévi went on to establish the All About Humanity Foundation, a refugee-led organization supporting orphans and vulnerable people in Meheba. The foundation helps young people navigate scholarships and university applications, opening access to education.
His own experience shaped this path. Today, Lévi hopes to continue his studies in humanitarian action, linking education with a growing commitment to supporting his community.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/hope-rebuilt-refugee-journeys-unesco-qualifications-passport?hub=701
