Thai University Opens Doors to Refugee Siblings After Five Years Without Formal Education
Bangkok, 28 April 2026
Two Sri Lankan refugee siblings, Danu and TJ, transformed from undocumented children living in one room to university graduates after accessing a German-funded scholarship programme. Despite spending five years without formal schooling and relying on volunteer teachers, they secured places at Siam University through the DAFI initiative, with Danu winning academic awards whilst studying information technology and TJ pursuing civil engineering. Their remarkable journey culminated in 2024 when they relocated to Canada via private sponsorship, demonstrating how targeted educational support can break cycles of displacement and create pathways to international opportunities for refugee youth.
From Documentation Crisis to Educational Access
The siblings’ journey began when they arrived in Thailand as children from Sri Lanka, part of a family of six living in one room [1]. Without legal documentation, they faced the constant risk of detention and existed in a legal limbo that severely limited their opportunities. “For most of our lives, ‘refugee’ was not just a word,” Danu explains. “It shaped how we lived, what we could do, and who we could become. If you have no paper documents, you are no one” [1]. The family’s situation improved when they registered with UNHCR and were later officially recognised as refugees, which granted them access to healthcare and made them eligible for opportunities including higher-education scholarships through the DAFI programme [1].
Community Support Bridges Educational Gap
During five years without access to formal schooling, the siblings relied on informal learning through church groups and volunteer teachers who stepped in to fill the educational void [1]. This community-driven approach to education proved crucial in maintaining their academic development during a critical period. “People in the community taught us for free,” Danu recalls. “That’s how we kept learning” [1]. The breakthrough came when a Thai private school headmaster waived tuition fees after conducting placement tests and admitted them at age-appropriate levels, with teachers sometimes providing photocopied textbooks to support their studies [1]. This act of educational inclusion marked a turning point in their academic journey, providing the formal structure they had been denied for years.
University Success Through DAFI Scholarship Programme
The siblings’ dedication to self-study and online courses, combined with their efforts to support other refugee students, positioned them well when they applied for the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund (DAFI) scholarship [1]. In 2023, both were admitted to Siam University, with Danu studying information technology and TJ pursuing civil engineering [1]. Their university experience represented a fundamental shift in how they were perceived by society. “For the first time, people saw us as students,” Danu noted, adding, “We did not feel we were refugees at all during that time” [1]. At university, they wore uniforms and carried student ID cards like any other students, with Danu achieving particular distinction by winning the International College’s Best Student Award [1].
International Recognition and Canadian Resettlement
The siblings’ academic achievements extended beyond individual success, as both represented Siam University and the Sri Lankan refugee community in the Royal Thai Government’s Experiencing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy programme, travelling across Thailand [1]. Their journey reached a new milestone when they recently arrived in Winnipeg, Canada, via a private sponsorship pathway, though their parents remain in Thailand [1]. Looking ahead, Danu plans to pursue nursing whilst TJ intends to continue his engineering studies and explore astronomy [1]. The transition to Canada represents the culmination of their educational journey, with Danu expressing profound optimism: “It will be life-changing. I will finally feel free and maybe start building a life where I truly belong” [1]. Their story demonstrates how sustained educational support can transform the trajectory of refugee youth, turning years of uncertainty into pathways to international opportunities and professional careers.