From Venezuela to Mexico: A journey of determination and hope in pursuit of education

My name is Stephanny and I am from Venezuela. I fled to Mexico due to the economic situation. There was a lot of scarcity, insecurity and a lack of basic services. In addition, my younger sister was diagnosed with a life-threatening infection called Mucormycosis in 2016 and spent two months in a hospital in intensive care. Covering the expenses of her medical treatment exhausted all our savings. So I made the decision to leave my country and arrived in Mexico looking for better opportunities.

I am currently studying Medicine at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM). I have a four-year-old child for whom I strive every day to provide with security and quality of life.

I applied for the scholarship because I needed support to cover the costs of books, food, transport, photocopies and medical instruments, which are quite expensive. Medicine is one of those courses where you have to study constantly and continue learning, so I just wouldn’t be able to do a part-time job, look after my son and still keep up with my studies.

At the moment, I’m studying gynaecology and paediatrics. One of the things I enjoy most is the interaction with the teachers and my classmates and being able to express myself and exchange ideas. I initially want to graduate as a doctor, then to be able to do a speciality, maybe in paediatrics with a subspecialty in infectiology.

Education is so important to me because, if I graduate, I can teach my son that through effort and study he can achieve his goals. Education opens doors for you and I feel that it is essential for everyone to have the opportunity to grow and enrich themselves through study.

The DAFI scholarship is significant for us, to be able to reach our dreams, to grow in another country and to have a better quality of life and a better future.

I’m really looking forward to continuing my studies. I’m super committed to moving forward and learning as much as I can. I’m striving in the hospital and at the University. I’m trying to improve as a person, to grow and to be a good daughter, a good partner, a good mother and a good friend.

Finally, I want to express my infinite thanks to all the people who make this possible.

I will not fail you.

–

To learn more about UNHCR’s DAFI Programme, click here.