COVA, MSI and NWM Help Conflict Affected Students from South Sudan to Get Scholarship from Government of Telangana to Continue Studies

[COVA Network]

Sixty three students between 20 & 25 years of age studying Engineering and B. Pharmacy in Guru Nanak Group of Institutions in Hyderabad are paying a very heavy price for the civil war that has erupted in their country since 2014 and were facing threat of discontinuation of studies and starvation. Already these students have lost contact with their families (some are killed and some missing) due to the civil war and most of these students cannot go back as they face a genuine threat to their life due to ethnic affiliations and the all-pervading atmosphere of violence in South Sudan.

These 63 students were provided full scholarship for higher education by Government of South Sudan in 2014 and were admitted in Guru Nanak Collage in Ibrahimpatnam, RR District of Telangana State of India. However as civil war broke out and South Sudan was divided into three conflicting zones with no functional government in the country even now, the scholarship funds were not given to the college barring some small initial payment in 2014.  For over two years now, the college has been providing food, accommodation and education to these students in the hope of getting reimbursed by the Government of South Sudan as agreed.

 

After 2 years of support the college had given notice that they will not be able to continue their support and these 63 students faced the challenge of denial of access to basic needs including food, shelter and also discontinuation of their education midway.

 

COVA a Partner of UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)  that works for communal harmony and community empowerment in India and peace in 9 countries of South Asia and Far East, was approached by these students from South Sudan for according refugee status due to life threatening conflict in their country and for help in mobilizing support to enable them to survive and continue their studies.

 

COVA, in association with, MSI (Montfort Social Institute) and National Workers Movement approached many philanthropic groups and also the Government of Telangana for support for these student to take care of their food, accommodation and some out of pocket expenses as the college has graciously agreed to keep in abeyance the tuition fees for now.

 

After consistent advocacy with the Government of Telangana and Government of India by COVA, MSI and National Workers Movement, Mr. Mahender Reddy, Minister for Transportation, Government of Telangana distributed cheques to the students of Rs. 30,000 each as Scholarship for 6 months.  

 

While profusely thanking the College Management and the Government of Telangana for their generous gestures, the students appealed to the government of Telangana to continue the scholarships for the remaining year and a half of their studies and the college management to continue to provide shelter and opportunity to complete their studies.

 

Aslam Khan

Digital Outreach Officer

COVA

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COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), is a national network of voluntary organisations working for communal harmony and community empowerment in India and peace in South Asia and South East Asia through formation of COFI (Countering Online Fanatic Indoctrination) Networks in 12 countries of the region. COVA is also engaged with multilateral bodies like the United Nations Organisation, G20, BRICS, OIC and others for structural transformations of the world order to make society  more equitable, sustainable, just and peaceful.

Address: COVA,# 18-13-8/A/508/B, Bandlaguda, Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad- 500 005 Telangana, INDIA. Phone: +91 40 24442984, Fax: +91 40 24444527

E-mail: covan...@gmail.com;  URL: www.covanetwork.org

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