{"id":125206,"date":"2026-04-30T12:40:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=125206"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:55:11","slug":"in-the-philippines-de-la-salle-university-dasmarinas-transforms-the-lives-of-young-rohingya-refugees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/in-the-philippines-de-la-salle-university-dasmarinas-transforms-the-lives-of-young-rohingya-refugees\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Philippines, De La Salle University-Dasmari\u00f1as transforms the lives of young Rohingya refugees"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201c<\/span><\/i>Where<\/span><\/i> the<\/span><\/i> heart<\/span><\/i> finds<\/span><\/i> a home<\/span><\/i>\u201d <\/span><\/i>is the title of the latest story released by <\/span>De La Salle University-Dasmari\u00f1as<\/span><\/a>, in video format, as part of <\/span>the <\/span>Lasallian Mission Festival<\/span><\/i><\/a> being held this week, with the aim of reflecting on how <\/span>the Lasallian Mission continues to transform lives, especially those of people affected by conflict and displacement<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than a series of activities, the Festival is an invitation to renew our commitment to the Lasallian Mission: to build communities that uphold human dignity, promote inclusion and respond concretely to the needs of the times\u201d, says the director of the Lasallian Mission, <\/span>Jose Ritche<\/span>. In this regard, he adds, \u201cthe stories of Ash and Lio were shared as powerful testimonies of hope, resilience and support, reminding us that <\/span>the Lasallian Mission goes beyond the classroom and is realised in the way we welcome, support and empower others<\/b>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, the short film \u2013 lasting 13 minutes and 2 seconds, in English \u2013 tells the story <\/span>of<\/b> Shafiul Kader (Lio) and Asmatullah (Ash), two young men originally from Myanmar who migrated to Malaysia as children<\/b>, together with their families, fleeing persecution and violence against the Rohingya.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

A stateless and persecuted community<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

\"\"<\/span>The Rohingya conflict has left the community stateless and exposed to persecution. <\/span>In 2017, military violence forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was around seven years old, I moved to Malaysia with my parents\u201d, recalls Lio. \u201cSo I studied there. I finished my high school. When I was little, I wanted to be a footballer. I was inspired by Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time. And since then I\u2019ve loved watching football and playing football. But <\/span>since I don\u2019t have a country, I let that dream go away<\/b>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there was war going in 2017, all of my relatives had to flee the country and migrate to Bangladesh\u201d, Lio continues. \u201cSo all of them are currently in the Bangladesh refugee camps. And life there is very hard. When I think of it… I feel very devastating (\u2026). <\/span>A few families use one single toilet (…) and they are under tents. When it is raining the soil becomes very muddy<\/b>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ash, for his part, emigrated to Malaysia when he was very young, at around five or six years old. \u201cI didn\u2019t know much about the things that were going on in Myanmar\u201d, he says. <\/span>\u201cI did ask my parents why we came here. They all said\u00a0 it was because of the war going on.<\/b> So everyone just wants to save their own life\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The language barrier was one of his first challenges: \u201cWhen I newly came it was very hard because I wanted to communicate with the locals. They used to bully us (\u2026). So whenever we went to play football, they say we can\u2019t play there because we were not from that country (\u2026). We faced a lot of difficulties, like bullies and criticism, but then, <\/span>by the time we grew up, we started learning their language and making friends with them<\/b>. They started accepting us, but not everyone\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

A glimmer of hope through education<\/b><\/h2><\/div>
\"\"

Ash<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The Rohingya remain one of the largest stateless groups in the world, and some countries offer them refuge but not full citizenship. However, Lio and Ash did not lose hope and joined the <\/b>Complementary Pathways <\/i><\/b>(CPath)<\/b><\/a> programme <\/b>in the Philippines<\/b><\/a>, promoted by the United Nations<\/b>, to provide some Rohingya refugees displaced in Southeast Asia with a safe and regulated pathway to admission and residence in the Philippines through education, so that their protection needs and basic rights can be met.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that contacted various universities in the Philippines, including Columban College and <\/span>De La Salle Brothers, Inc. (DLSBI)<\/span><\/a>\u201d, says Jose Ritche. \u201cFrom this initial network, the initiative grew into a consortium now known as <\/span>Pathways Pilipinas<\/span><\/i>, a group of educational institutions implementing the CPath Programme in the Philippines\u201d, of which <\/span>De La Salle<\/span><\/a> University-Damari\u00f1as** is a member.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhen I heard about this programme, I was so happy because I felt I had the chance to change my future\u201d, says Ash enthusiastically. \u201cI want to break that cycle, the cycle of being a refugee. I come from a family where no one had ever gone to university before. So <\/span>I am the first in my family to get a university degree, here at my university<\/b>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lio, for his part, says, \u201cI am very grateful for this opportunity I have been given. It is very rare. And <\/span>the Philippines is the only country that has awarded scholarships to Rohingya refugees in Malaysia and Bangladesh<\/b>. When I finish my studies, I hope to be able to give something back to the La Salle community\u201d, he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

As <\/span>CPath<\/span><\/i> programme scholarship holders<\/span>, <\/span><\/i>Lio and Ash <\/span>receive support from De La Salle University-Damari\u00f1as to pursue their higher education<\/b>, along with a monthly allowance for living expenses, participation in other development programmes and free accommodation in their university halls of residence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen our University accepted the invitation to join the initiative, it recognised an ever-growing call to embrace inclusion and diversity<\/b>. The Rohingya refugees are the largest and most severely affected group to have been stripped of their citizenship and persecuted\u201d, says the director of the Lasallian Mission. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Together as one Lasallian Family<\/b><\/h2><\/div>
\"\"

Lio<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

By participating in the study programmes on offer, young Rohingya people are not only integrated into the high-quality educational environment provided by the University, but are also welcomed with warmth and fraternity, and are encouraged to rethink their lives and dream big. That is why \u201ctheir stories form part of this year\u2019s Lasallian Mission Festival, offering the community a living testimony of what it means to make hope a reality: together, as one Lasallian family<\/b>,\u201d emphasises Jose Ritche.<\/p>\n

Lio aspires to become an IT specialist. With his training, he hopes to secure a well-paid job \u201cbecause I want to support myself and my family\u201d. \u201cI\u2019m going to study hard and make them proud\u201d. \u201c<\/span>My dream is to bring my whole family together in one place (\u2026) in Malaysia, somewhere<\/b>. To achieve that, I have to earn a lot of money. And then, of course, obtain citizenship in any country. I think the only thing we lack compared to others, those who have a country, is freedom \u2013 the freedom of movement to go to other countries. As we are refugees, we cannot travel abroad\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ash wants to work as a data analyst. \u201c<\/span>I\u2019m<\/b> also <\/span>thinking about setting up my own business<\/b>\u201d. Through his work, he hopes to have enough resources to look after his parents: \u201cThey\u2019ve given me so much and I\u2019d like to give something back to them. They\u2019ve always supported me and always given me everything I wanted, even though there were times when we had financial problems (\u2026). I\u2019ll try to help as much as possible\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep dreaming\u201d, \u201cstudy and work hard\u201d, \u201csupport my family and my community\u201d. Lio and Ash\u2019s stories are moving and inspiring. They know <\/span>they have the whole De La Salle University-Dasmari\u00f1as community behind them as they write a new chapter in their stories<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHelp those in need and make them feel proud. And believe in yourself. Of course you can do it. <\/span>It doesn\u2019t matter where you come from. Just believe in God too and keep working hard<\/b>\u201d, is Lio\u2019s advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake life seriously. Remember that there are people counting on you<\/b>. Your parents, your siblings and the rest of your family are counting on you. And don\u2019t forget your school, your teachers. They have always believed in you. So make everyone proud\u201d, adds Ash.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amid the conflict that continues to affect their people, the Rohingya cling to the hope that one day they may find <\/span>a place to call home<\/b>. A home like the one they have found at La Salle, where \u201ceverything is connected\u201d, including shared dreams. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

We invite you to watch the video produced by De La Salle University-Dasmari\u00f1as:<\/i><\/b><\/h2><\/div>