Support Rashidi: A Future Leader in Peacebuilding

**Update: On Thursday, July 10, Rashidi received positive confirmation that his international student visa to the U.S. was officially granted. This was after an extended period of additional vetting many current and prospective international students are experiencing.**

Please join me in raising support for Rashidi Kawawa, a dedicated peacebuilder and advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. Rashidi has been accepted into the prestigious Master of Global Affairs program at University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, matriculating in August 2025.

As a testament to his remarkable qualifications and experience, the Keough School has offered him financial assistance covering his airfare, tuition, housing, and most living expenses during the two-year graduate program. However, the financial realities of living in the U.S. especially when compared to the wages and cost of living in Uganda are immense. Your contributions will help Rashidi cover essential school materials and initial living expenses as he begins his education journey in South Bend (IN) and at Notre Dame next month.

Journey of forced displacement

Rashidi embodies resilience, hope, and a deep commitment to building a peaceful and just world. As a child, Rashidi was forcibly displaced from his village in Uganda and found himself in a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His firsthand experience as a refugee – of war, displacement, conflict, and survival – has driven Rashidi to dedicate his life to advocating for those affected by conflict and forced displacement.

Commitment to more peaceful communities

Rashidi's interest in peace and conflict studies sparked during a high school political science class. Since then, he pursued a B.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy, which included field research culminating in a thesis on the impact of forced migration in one of the largest refugee resettlements Uganda's West Nile Region.

Professionally, Rashidi has worked for internationally-renowned humanitarian organizations such as the Danish Refugee Council and Jesuit Refugee Service. In his roles, he has empowered refugees and others impacted by forced displacement in Uganda, facilitating and leading education and community-building initiatives focused the creating access to formal and informal education, advocating for gender-based violence (GBV) response and prevention, and creating spaces for peace and conflict resolution.

Most recently, Rashidi has especially focused on advocating for and creating access to education opportunities for girls and young women, helping many to secure scholarships so that they may access and continue with education opportunities.

Future peace scholar and researcher

Rashidi's acceptance into the Master of Global Affairs program at Notre Dame is a life-changing opportunity. Rashidi’s long-term aspirations are to pursue a PhD in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies and to take his learning back to Uganda. He aims to be a scholar and researcher, to increase research and scholarship in this field and to educate, train, and foster future leaders in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. With his deep empathy, strong leadership, and unyielding commitment to peace, Rashidi is poised to make a lasting impact.

Note from the crowdfunding organizer (Ming)

I have had the privilege of working closely with Rashidi as colleagues where I experienced firsthand his integrity, collaborative spirit, and deep commitment to peace and justice. Drawing from his lived experience, he has dedicated his academic and professional life to supporting refugees and other forcibly displaced people and communities. Rashidi’s acceptance into this master’s program offers a transformative opportunity to deepen his expertise in international peace studies and ethical leadership and to take that learning back to Uganda.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.