TWO STUDENTS, OLAFUNKE Ollarinoye and Shepherd Machaya, who received University of Sanctuary scholarships, graduated today from Dublin City University (DCU) with degrees in Management of Information Technology/Information Systems.

Universities of Sanctuary are colleges that welcome refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants into their student body. There are now eight such third-level institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

They both endured significant challenges to get to where they are today, particularly for Olufunke, whose daughter, Temitope, died at the age of six in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

“When she died, suddenly I couldn’t find my place in the world anymore,” she explained.

To escape the “very dark place” she was in after the death, Olafunke turned to DCU after hearing about the University of Sanctuary scholarships offered by the College.

Along with her studies, which she completed part-time, Olafunke also secured a position in Irish Life and is now volunteering as a Youth and Charity Officer in the Prince of Peace Charity.

For Shepherd Machaya, the moment he received the offer of a place at DCU was a huge one for him. “I don’t want to lie to you, I started crying,” he said. 

Shepherd was very nearly deported before starting his studies, but a vigorous campaign by the DCU Students’ Union and university staff – S.O.S. (Save Our Shepherd) – cast the national spotlight onto his story.

The university then organised legal representation and, just in time, the deportation was put on hold.

“It’s something that I will never forget,” said Shepherd of the support given to him by the college.

Now graduated with a 2:1 honours degree, he wants to work in cybersecurity, but says the thing that stands out the most to him are the friendships and connections made during his time in DCU.

DCU was the first university in Ireland to be granted Sanctuary status in 2016, and offered five University of Sanctuary Scholarships to international protection applicants and refugees in September 2023.

“This University took me in its arms like a mother takes care of a child,” Shepherd said. “They took me and they said, we are family.”