Since the start of the ongoing Ukraine war in February 2022, over 16,000 African students studying at Ukrainian universities have been displaced. African students and families were disproportionately affected by the situation, as many faced discrimination, limited access to humanitarian assistance, and barriers to seeking temporary protection in the European Union, alongside their Ukrainian counterparts.
In response, NoirUnited has supported over 1,500 displaced African students, families, and other third-country nationals (TCNs) with necessities such as food and water, transportation, and temporary housing. We have worked across Europe, targeting Poland, Germany, and France to increase access to legal resources and mental health support. Through advocacy and humanitarian assistance, our teams are working diligently to promote humanitarian equity and ensure that all individuals affected by the crisis have equal access to the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
"I am so grateful for the scholarship that NoirUnited has given to me to cover part of my tuition. I am the first among my siblings to go to university and my mother had to take a huge loan to finance my first-year fees and expenses. This scholarship support has helped me continue my education here in Poland.
NoirUnited has not only been a blessing for me but to many people from Ukraine that I have met. After moving to Warsaw, Poland my laptop stopped working and for months, I had to continue school work from my phone. After several visits from NoirUnited to Poland, they made sure that those in need for technological support were assisted.
Recognizing that war trauma disproportionately affects African students displaced from Ukraine, NUI connects them with culturally responsive mental health professionals for both online and in-person therapy sessions. We facilitate access to diverse therapeutic approaches, including community healing spaces and art therapy, to address trauma in culturally appropriate ways.
NUI believes in the power of agency and ensures that displaced people can make individual choices based on their personal needs. Through direct cash payments, recipients gain immediate access to funds, allowing them to select essential items and services that best meet their specific circumstances.
NUI addresses technology gaps faced by displaced students through partnerships that provide new, used, or refurbished computers and laptops, enabling them to continue their education online. Beyond essential computing devices, we facilitate access to mobile phones and tablets, ensuring students maintain vital connections with their communities and access to critical information.
NoirUnited International collaborates with leading educational and philanthropic organizations to provide scholarships for African students displaced from Ukraine to continue their education. Through these vital partnerships, we support students’ academic journeys and help them unlock their full potential, reflecting our core belief in education as a transformative force.
Co-founders Macire and Nassim met with Minister-Counselor Aboubacar Konate at the Guinean Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The Minister-Counselor commended NoirUnited’s impact and the resilience demonstrated by displaced students.
NoirUnited International coordinated the evacuation of 41 students from Kherson, Ukraine to Paris, France, working with local and international partners to arrange transportation, provide translators, and deliver direct financial assistance. In Paris, France, co-founders Macire and Nassim engaged with displaced families while collaborating with the French Red Cross to secure housing support.
In Krakow, Poland, NoirUnited International met directly with over 30 students from Kherson, Ukraine, seeking refuge at a local monastery. Our team provided students with new materials (clothes, shoes, etc.) and discussed options for continuing their education.
In Paris, France, NoirUnited partnered with local African businesses to host community advocacy workshops with francophone students from Ukraine. These workshops were used to share educational and legal resources to those seeking gain legal status to study and work.