Governance and Human Rights: Ahmad Dandashi - Abandoned Homeland
2024-07-02 The Syrian worked for ten years remotely from abroad with Syrian refugees in camps and urban settings in Lebanon and other countries in the region. Now he is studying part-time at the Professional School. Financially, he is supported by a scholarship from a US-Syrian organization. The program aims at Syrian students with a refugee background.
"I know what it's like to have to leave your home country," says Ahmad Dandashi. The Syrian fled to Lebanon twelve years ago. He has now been living in Germany since 2021. He is committed to helping refugees in both countries. Ahmad Dandashi worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council for many years and contributed to camp management in refugee camps in Lebanon, for example. Most recently, he worked in Germany as Data Collection Coordinator.
Ahmad Dandashi actually went in a completely different direction professionally: the Syrian is a singer and studied interior design. But due to the war and his flight, he was never able to pursue this profession. Instead, he works for migrants. "This work has now become my life's work," says Ahmad Dandashi. In order to be able to work more professionally, the Syrian was looking for a part-time degree course - and came across the "Human Rights and Governance" study program at Leuphana Professional School.
"I know the practice, I know about the challenges and the problems. But I lacked the academic knowledge to better understand the theoretical background to flight and migration and to be able to help people more effectively," says Ahmad Dandashi.
The Master's program teaches governance principles and their application in order to promote the establishment and protection of human rights. For example, Ahmad Dandashi dealt with fundraising, legal issues, project design and project organization: "With the knowledge I gained from my studies, I want to become a service provider for refugees," explains Ahmad Dandashi.