How Education Carried a Burundian Refugee from Rwanda’s Mahama Camp to Oxford

When Odile Niyomugaba fled Burundi with her family in 2015, she could not imagine finishing secondary school let alone studying at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Now 27, Niyomugaba is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in International Relations at the University of Oxford, a milestone that crowns a decade long journey marked by displacement, hardship, and resilience.

Born in Burundi, Niyomugaba was forced to flee ongoing instability and violence, finding refuge with her family in Rwanda’s Mahama refugee camp. The transition was abrupt and painful. She had just begun her third year of secondary school when her education was disrupted.

“Everything felt unfamiliar,” she recalls. “Classes were taught in English, a language I barely understood. I often sat in class feeling defeated, wondering if there was any point in continuing.”

Life in the camp was defined by scarcity. Her mother struggled to provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, and school materials. Some days, Niyomugaba attended classes hungry, weighed down by uncertainty about her family’s future.

“There were moments when I thought of giving up entirely,” she says. “Learning on an empty stomach while worrying about survival felt impossible.”

A turning point came through the support of community programs, humanitarian organizations, and her mother’s encouragement. Gradually, Niyomugaba regained confidence, progressing step by step and exam by exam until finishing secondary school, an achievement she once believed was out of reach.

Yet new barriers emerged. Limited access to technology and low digital literacy nearly cost her a university opportunity. With help from a fellow student, she applied for a scholarship but later forgot her email password. Months later, she discovered she had been awarded the scholarship only to lose it because she had not accepted the offer in time.

“It was heartbreaking,” she says. “But it pushed me to improve my digital skills and keep searching for opportunities.”

That persistence paid off. Niyomugaba was later awarded a scholarship under the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative DAFI, enabling her to pursue undergraduate studies in International Relations at Kigali Independent University. She graduated in December 2024, with the scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, food, and daily living expenses.

“Without DAFI support, university would have been impossible for me,” she says.

After completing her undergraduate thesis, Niyomugaba set her sights on postgraduate studies. She joined Graduate Horizons, an application support programme run by the Refugee Led Research Hub at the University of Oxford, where she received mentorship and guidance on applying to international universities.

Her efforts culminated in a full scholarship offer from Oxford.

“When I received the acceptance email, I reread it several times,” she recalls. “I felt disbelief, joy, gratitude, and fear.”

For Niyomugaba, the achievement carries a deeper meaning beyond personal success.

“This acceptance was not just for me,” she says. “It was for my family, my community, and all young refugees who dare to dream despite the odds.”

Arriving at Oxford in October was both overwhelming and transformative. For someone raised in a refugee camp defined by uncertainty, walking through Oxford’s historic halls felt almost dreamlike.

Now studying International Relations in the Department of Politics and International Relations, Niyomugaba says her academic focus is closely tied to her lived experience.

“I want to use what I learn to improve access to education, advocate for human rights, and create opportunities for young people in refugee settings,” she says.

She also carries a message for other displaced youth pursuing education against the odds.

“Never give up on your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem,” she says. “Your status is temporary, but your humanity, your abilities, and your potential are permanent.”

To organizations and individuals supporting refugee education, Niyomugaba expresses deep gratitude.

“Every scholarship, every mentorship program plants a seed of transformation,” she says. “When one refugee is educated, the impact spreads to entire communities.”

From Mahama refugee camp to Oxford University, her journey stands as a powerful testament to resilience and to what becomes possible when opportunity meets determination.