Stories from our work
Stories from our work
A safe haven for persecuted students
When Sait Matty Jaw was imprisoned in the Gambia because of his student activism, he heard about Students at Risk for the first time. A program that would prove decisive for his ability to continue his studies and his fight for human rights. His story is far from unique.
Students on the front line – and at risk
For generations, student activists have stood at the forefront of the struggle for democracy and human rights. From the fight against apartheid in South Africa and the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, to today’s protests in Bangladesh and Indonesia. When authoritarian regimes are challenged, it is often students who take the first steps.
That also makes them targets.
Across the world, student activists are monitored, imprisoned, threatened, and expelled from their universities. For some, access to higher education in Norway can be the difference between freedom and prison.
From student demands to Norwegian human rights policy
The Students at Risk (StAR) program was established in 2013 following an initiative by SAIH and the National Union of Students in Norway (NSO). What began as a demand from Norwegian students is today an internationally recognized model for the protection of persecuted student activists.
Through StAR, students who are persecuted because of their activism are given the opportunity to complete their education at Norwegian universities and university colleges. SAIH has been a central driving force behind the program since its inception—and remains the largest nominating organization.
This program is more than just a scholarship; it is an important protection mechanism for young human rights defenders like me, and it provides a safe space where we can continue both our education and our activism.
Documented results
Since 2014, more than 150 human rights activists have received protection and education through Students at Risk.
Evaluations show clear results:
• 79 % continue their human rights work while studying in Norway
• Most complete their degree, many within the standard time
• Students build strong networks and skills that strengthen their future work
For an activist from Iraq, Myanmar or Ethiopia, StAR can be a turning point—a chance to survive, study, and continue the fight for justice.
Growing need – limited capacity
Despite its proven impact, the program is too small. Norway currently admits around 20 StAR students per year, while the number of qualified applicants is more than twice as high. SAIH is therefore working to persuade the government to double the capacity to 40 places.
At the same time, experience shows that students need more than a place of study. Many arrive with trauma after imprisonment, violence, or persecution. That is why SAIH is working for better psychosocial follow-up and clearer security routines—so that students can actually study in safety.
Solidarity that works
When you support SAIH, you help protect people who dare to speak out where others are forced into silence.
Students at Risk is concrete proof that engagement in Norway can influence policy, save lives, and give young people the opportunity to continue the struggle for democracy and human rights.
In a world where democracy is under pressure, we need courageous voices more than ever. Together, we can ensure that more students like Sait receive the protection they need to continue the fight for human rights.
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