Community Resilience
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 have been disproportionately affected, facing discrimination, limited access to humanitarian assistance, and barriers to seeking temporary protection.
In response, NoirUnited has supported over 1,500 displaced African students, families, and other third-country nationals with necessities such as food and water, transportation, and temporary housing. We work across Europe, targeting Poland, Germany, and France, to increase access to legal resources and mental health support.
NUI connects displaced African students with culturally responsive mental health professionals for online and in-person therapy. We facilitate diverse therapeutic approaches including community healing spaces and art therapy.
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 provides new, used, or refurbished computers and laptops so displaced students can continue their education online, plus mobile phones and tablets for vital connections.
NoirUnited collaborates with leading educational and philanthropic organizations to provide scholarships for African students displaced from Ukraine to continue their education.
"I am so grateful for the scholarship that NoirUnited has given me to cover part of my tuition. I am the first among my siblings to go to university. This scholarship has helped me continue my education here in Poland."
- NUI-supported student, Warsaw, Poland
Co-founders Macire and Nassim met with Minister-Counselor Aboubacar Konate at the Guinean Embassy in Berlin. The Minister-Counselor commended NoirUnited's impact and the resilience demonstrated by displaced students.
In Krakow, NoirUnited met directly with over 30 students from Kherson, Ukraine seeking refuge at a local monastery. Our team provided students with new materials and discussed options for continuing their education.
NoirUnited coordinated the evacuation of 41 students from Kherson to Paris, arranging transportation, translators, and direct financial assistance. We also hosted advocacy workshops with francophone students.
Voices of Survival
Untold stories of Africans in Ukraine, produced by NoirUnited co-founders Macire Aribot Ashford and Nassim Ashford, sponsored by the Open Society Foundation.
Watch the Series