“Católica's scholarship was the chance to continue, to survive, to not let everything fall apart,” says Iranian Mahoor Kaffashian

“Can I really study here?” The question comes from Mahoor Kaffashian and arose in June 2022, when he first visited the dental clinic at the Viseu campus of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Born in Iran, she moved to Ukraine, where she began studying aviation. But after a year, she decided to pursue other flights. "I switched to dentistry because it seemed like the perfect balance: helping people, working with science and art, while building my independence," she recalls, adding that "dentistry offered a mix of service, creativity and self-sufficiency."

Then, she left Ukraine and made several attempts to continue his studies in other countries: Italy, Poland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Spain. However, she only received "vague answers." "Católica was one of the few universities that gave me something concrete to rely on," she says.

In September 2022, the answer to his question arrived. And it was a “yes”. Thanks to a scholarship from Católica for refugees, Mahoor can resume his dentistry course in Viseu.

Today, Mahoor Kaffashian recalls that adapting to a new education system, a new language and new people was "a challenge". "Of course, I felt lucky to be able to continue on my path to becoming a dentist, but it wasn't easy," she says. "There were difficult moments, financially, academically and emotionally, but despite everything, I held on to one phrase: “You survived a war... is this really harder than that?”, the graduate continues. She recalls the help she received from professors, classmates and people from Viseu. "They did everything they could to make me feel at home," she praises.

That is why Mahoor also recalls "moments of happiness", such as "finishing a treatment, seeing a patient smile again or hearing a professor say “Well done”". "The clinic itself holds many of my memories," she says, pointing to very specific situations: "I celebrated my proudest moments when a patient told me they had started a relationship after we corrected their teeth, or when I achieved something I didn't think I was capable of."

In summary, the Iranian student emphasises that “Católica was never "just a degree", it was a mixture of challenges and support that shaped everything”. She underlines the importance of the scholarship, which “was not just financial; it was the possibility of continuing, of surviving, of not letting everything fall apart. Without it, none of this journey would have been possible”.

“I often asked myself, "Is it really worth it?" But on 9 July 2025, when I defended my thesis, I knew the answer. It really is worth it,” sums up Mahoor, who received the highest mark from the jury and has already published an article in Prosthesis magazine, two abstracts – one national and one international – and three posters.

“I dedicated my research and thesis to Iranian women, in the hope that they may prosper freely, to Women, to Life, to Freedom, and also to all refugees, who fight for what should be their right, but who were not fortunate enough to have it in their own country,” reflects the recent graduate.

“For me, being a dentist means having the ability not only to build my own life, but also to give opportunities to people who just need a little more luck or support. In addition, I love the confidence people gain when they smile again; it's priceless to see someone love themselves more after [dental] treatment,” explains Mahoor.

Assuming that you prefer goals to dreams, you reveal that you want to repay the love, kindness and support you have received. "Sometimes all a person needs is a little push, a little help to keep going. I want to be that little help for someone else, the luck they need to believe in their path."

For the future, Mahoor leaves a wish: "a safer world, with fewer dictators, more trees, women proud of what they can do, children who grow up wiser, and racism existing only as a frightening myth of the past."

This programme is part of the national effort to welcome and integrate refugees and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. ‘The Refugee Student Support Initiative has been recognised as a Good Practice by the Global Compact on Refugees.’