Kaiza Bertha Namuli

24 Feb 2022

Just days before Kaiza Bertha Namuli was due to leave her home in Uganda to pursue her dream of studying on the Gold Coast, the Australian Government closed its borders as COVID-19 began to spread across the world. The longer the pandemic continued the more uncertain the situation became and as Kaiza patiently waited for an opportunity to travel she decided to commence her studies online instead.

There were many challenges for Kaiza as she studied her Diploma of Social and Psychological Science at Griffith College, not least of which was her country's unreliable internet service. And while Kaiza completed her diploma remotely, she never gave up hope that she would still have the chance to undertake her degree in Social Work at Griffith University in person.

When Australia reopened its borders late in 2021, Kaiza became one of the first international students to arrive on the Gold Coast, but in a climate of erratic travel services and cancelled flights the journey became an ordeal in itself. Now as she settles into her new home and prepares to commence her degree, an ecstatically happy Kaiza shares her insights into her experiences during the pandemic and her relief at finally having arrived on the Gold Coast.


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