College Funding for Asylum Seekers
Donation protected
Nasc's Connect Project are seeking your support for funds that will make a difference in young asylum seekers’ lives today. We would like to give young people that are seeking asylum an opportunity to excel in their lives and integrate in their community through accessing post leaving cert (PLC) education.
Update: 22/06/2020
Thank you to everyone who has donated. You have helped Connect Project assist 35 young people access to education. The money donated has helped to pay for course fees as well as other education costs like travel supports. We are now closing this account and we have set up a new GoFundMe for 2020/2021 course fees over at https://gf.me/u/yag3zf
Why donate?
Education is a necessity in people’s lives. It means a lot to those who have not had the opportunity to access college or have to leave their course in their home country, due to war, conflict or fear of persecution. We are asking for your help, as asylum seekers cannot afford to pay for PLC courses due to their status in the country. They are given €38.80 per week, which isn’t helpful considering that PLC college fees are at least €4,000 per course for non-EU students. We want to send at least two students to full time college this September. These young people are just finishing their Leaving Cert and deserve to progress to further education just like their peers. We managed to raise enough for one young girl last term, who is doing really well and achieving Distinctions in her course. She is due to progress to UCC this September. With enough effort and with your support we can help even more asylum seekers this year!
Quotes from people in the Connect Project:
"I am a 19 year old asylum seeker and a young mom, who has been a victim of rape and torture. I am here in Ireland to seek protection and start a new life but being an asylum seeker, life is tough and you are deprived of so many opportunities like Education...It is heartbreaking .. and as a young mom that's the only way I feel my life can get better for both me and my son. I am currently doing my Leaving Cert but am afraid if I don't get a non-EU fee that it will be the end of my educational journey and I might not go to college .... I don't want that to happen. Cause growing up I have always dreamed of being a Business Administrator and so I'm kindly asking people to support me so I can actualize my dream".
“I am an asylum seeker from a war-torn society in Somalia. I came here to seek protection and peace. I have no idea where my family is at the moment since I left my country and I am not in contact with them. I still do not know what will happen in my future. I try to keep busy so that I don’t feel down, but this is difficult sometimes. I was very disappointed when I couldn’t finish Medical School, so I really want to keep working towards any medical or science related courses”.
“I am a 21 year old asylum seeker and have been living in Ireland for the past 3 years. I come from Malawi, and as a member of the LGBT community I was assaulted and discriminated against in my home country. I came here to seek safety. I was transferred to a new Direct Provision Centre recently at very short notice which further disrupted my life and education. I have a passion for computers and software development and would like to work in the IT industry in Ireland. A QQI Level 5 course would be another step up in my education progression.
About Us
Nasc’s Connect Project helps young people from ages 14-23 years with issues like accessing education, employment, improving their mental health and wellbeing and getting a secure immigration status. We support young asylum seekers living in direct provision and young people in Care and Aftercare services. Find out more about Nasc on our website - www.nascireland.org.
The Details
Cost breakdown; one student's college fees for a standard PLC course is €4,000.
Our goal is to raise enough for at least two students to go to college this September.
Update: 22/06/2020
Thank you to everyone who has donated. You have helped Connect Project assist 35 young people access to education. The money donated has helped to pay for course fees as well as other education costs like travel supports. We are now closing this account and we have set up a new GoFundMe for 2020/2021 course fees over at https://gf.me/u/yag3zf
Why donate?
Education is a necessity in people’s lives. It means a lot to those who have not had the opportunity to access college or have to leave their course in their home country, due to war, conflict or fear of persecution. We are asking for your help, as asylum seekers cannot afford to pay for PLC courses due to their status in the country. They are given €38.80 per week, which isn’t helpful considering that PLC college fees are at least €4,000 per course for non-EU students. We want to send at least two students to full time college this September. These young people are just finishing their Leaving Cert and deserve to progress to further education just like their peers. We managed to raise enough for one young girl last term, who is doing really well and achieving Distinctions in her course. She is due to progress to UCC this September. With enough effort and with your support we can help even more asylum seekers this year!
Quotes from people in the Connect Project:
"I am a 19 year old asylum seeker and a young mom, who has been a victim of rape and torture. I am here in Ireland to seek protection and start a new life but being an asylum seeker, life is tough and you are deprived of so many opportunities like Education...It is heartbreaking .. and as a young mom that's the only way I feel my life can get better for both me and my son. I am currently doing my Leaving Cert but am afraid if I don't get a non-EU fee that it will be the end of my educational journey and I might not go to college .... I don't want that to happen. Cause growing up I have always dreamed of being a Business Administrator and so I'm kindly asking people to support me so I can actualize my dream".
“I am an asylum seeker from a war-torn society in Somalia. I came here to seek protection and peace. I have no idea where my family is at the moment since I left my country and I am not in contact with them. I still do not know what will happen in my future. I try to keep busy so that I don’t feel down, but this is difficult sometimes. I was very disappointed when I couldn’t finish Medical School, so I really want to keep working towards any medical or science related courses”.
“I am a 21 year old asylum seeker and have been living in Ireland for the past 3 years. I come from Malawi, and as a member of the LGBT community I was assaulted and discriminated against in my home country. I came here to seek safety. I was transferred to a new Direct Provision Centre recently at very short notice which further disrupted my life and education. I have a passion for computers and software development and would like to work in the IT industry in Ireland. A QQI Level 5 course would be another step up in my education progression.
About Us
Nasc’s Connect Project helps young people from ages 14-23 years with issues like accessing education, employment, improving their mental health and wellbeing and getting a secure immigration status. We support young asylum seekers living in direct provision and young people in Care and Aftercare services. Find out more about Nasc on our website - www.nascireland.org.
The Details
Cost breakdown; one student's college fees for a standard PLC course is €4,000.
Our goal is to raise enough for at least two students to go to college this September.
Organiser
Nasc Migrant Refugee Rights
Organiser
County Cork
