Walking the Edinburgh Kiltwalk

I am Shaliny Lingeswaran, writer, painter, activist and a medical student at the university of Cambridge. As a person with firsthand experiences of forced displacement, I know deep in my heart the complete liberation that comes with finding sanctuary in education.

As the new academic year begins, September carries a quiet hope for me. It’s a reminder that after periods of prolonged uncertainty, there is always the possibility of rebuilding, growing and imagining a safer future. So, this September I will be walking 21 miles in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to support STAR (Student Action for Refugees) and its work to improve access to higher education for people who have been forcibly displaced and are rebuilding their lives here in the UK.

I'm taking on this challenge in memory of Krishanthi Kumaraswamy, 30 years after her rape and institutionalised murder in Sri Lanka. Krishanthi akka was a bright young student whose pursuit of education was violently cut short as a direct consequence of the dehumanising efforts of war and conflict. Her case became a powerful symbol in the struggle for truth and justice and led to the discovery of the Chemmani mass graves, exposing the wider human rights abuses suffered by many during the conflict. As a Tamil woman, Krishanthi akka's story impacts and shapes me deeply. Thirty years on, her memory reminds us not only of the importance of justice, but also of the value of every person's right to live, learn, and build a future in safety and dignity.

I believe in the transformative power of critical pedagogy. For us, people fleeing homes, leaving behind families, communities and the familiar for the only hope of safety; accessing a higher education is not a mere qualification.

Education is belonging.

Education is the purpose.

Education is hope.

Education is the future.

STAR works to make this possible. Over the years, thousands of people from forcibly displaced backgrounds have benefited from STAR's guidance on applying to university, accessing scholarships, and navigating the path into higher education. These opportunities can be truly life-changing.

As I take each step on the Kiltwalk, I will be walking in remembrance of Krishanthi akka in and support of those who are rebuilding their lives today. Every donation, no matter how small, will help STAR continue its work supporting displaced students to learn, belong and contribute to their communities.

Thank you ever so much for your support.