Dizzying excitement filled Nosizi Dube\u2019s heart as she opened a letter offering her a place to study economics at the University of Nairobi four years ago. But with neither the birth certificate nor identity card required for university entry in Kenya, Nosizi\u2019s excitement quickly turned to worry: how would her dream of a degree be possible?<\/p>\n
As a member of Kenya\u2019s stateless Shona community, Nosizi\u2019s life had been marred by obstacles caused by her lack of legal identity. \u201cI had no idea how I would get into university and start my studies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But the 24-year-old has always believed in striving for the impossible. Nosizi\u2019s strong academic record and unwavering desire for education fueled her determination, and in 2020 UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and partners helped to convince the university to accept Nosizi despite her lack of legal citizenship.<\/p>\n
The intervention was part of years of concerted advocacy that in 2021 saw the Government of Kenya grant citizenship to 1,659 Shona people, ending more than half a century of statelessness. The historic move has had a profound positive impact on the Shona community: children now have birth certificates, enabling them to attend school, access government bursaries, medical services and health insurance.<\/p>\n
Achieving full potential<\/p>\n
For Nosizi, the advocacy had paid off in a very specific way, as she stood in the university graduation square earlier this year, in a black gown and mortarboard cap clutching her degree certificate. \u201cToday is a very special day for me. It marks an end to the struggles I faced and unlocks more opportunities for me,\u201d she said, beaming with pride.<\/p>\n