African students facing racism when seeking for internship in North Cyprus pharmacies

The rate at which African students studying in various universities in North Cyprus are been discriminated against is alarming. To this extent, getting an acceptance for internship in pharmacies in the country is a no go area for these students because these pharmacy owners prefer whites or Turks.

Students come to the island with the hope of getting proper and quality education and in doing so, they have to over come so many odds to arrive at their academic goal.

The system is so messed up that there is a disconnection between most universities in the island and these so called pharmacy owners with Africans students bearing the brunt of the consequences resulting from this disconnection.

In recent times, several students have complained of how they are been denied an opportunity to do their internship at pharmacies in North Cyprus. They have also complained of racial discrimination and preference for white people. These students complain of how they have to go round town from pharmacy to pharmacy seeking a place to do their internship and at the end of the day, they are not accepted.

Universities don't care
Universities expects students to go out there and find a placement for internship on their own. Letters are not written on their behalf neither are the pharmacies contacted on the student's behalf. These students go on the streets of Cyprus, going from one pharmacy to the other begging to be accepted for internship and at the end of the day, their efforts are fruitless.

When they complain to the universities, they are told that there is nothing they can do about it. They make them feel like it's their burden. 

Some times the universities tell them to go do it at home or somewhere in Famagusta or Girne for students that resides in Lefkosa like they are going to provide transport for them. 

Language barriers
Theses students also face language barriers and are unable to communicate directly with pharmacy owners. With this gap in communication, pharmacy owners outrightly turn down their request. Even when those that have little knowledge of the Turkish language try to speak, they are quick to tell them, "No English". But when these students have to buy drugs from them, they automatically know how to speak English.

Racism?
Most of the African students we spoke to, complained about how Turkish, Cypriots and students from other countries do not have to put in much efforts as they do but are accepted at the first time of asking. 

I have been going there, the problem is with the pharmacy stores, they are racists, they don't want Africans, said one Pharmacy student who spoke to us about her ordeal.

In some cases, they are told it's full or there is no space for them and when you visit the same place tomorrow, you find out that they had accepted a white person. They see the African students as one who can not be trusted and allowed within their business premises. 

Help from the pharmacy association

Sometimes the body responsible for these pharmacies try to help out but there's little they can do. Sometimes they try to help these students find a place to do their internship but once they know the person is of African origin, they turned down their request.

The woman (in charge of the association) called about three pharmacies in my presence, they could ask from where, then later she tells me that its full, said another respondent.

Students have to travel twice in a semester to their country just to do their internship.

Most universities students are expected to do at least 8 internship and yet they can't find a place to do it. Most students who can't find a place to do their internship, are now left with the only option of traveling to their home country for it. And this has heaped more burden on their parents financially and put the student at risk of having to travel twice in 4 months.

Sometimes most of these students are not able to make it back and have to remain in their country until they are financially capable. Some are forced to drop out of school why those who manage to go through the process do so at a cost.

How long can this continue? 
This is likely to continue as far as the system remains the same. Most of these students don't know what to do when this happens, they don't know where to go to register their complain and when they try to speak about it, the issue is trashed like it doesn't matter. 

What are the universities doing about it? 
Currently the universities are doing nothing about it. They have turned a blind eye to the issue while they expect these students to come with their report and not minding how they go about doing their internship.

Until the universities and necessary authorities do something about it, it will continue even worse than it already is.

What should they do to help these students?
In real sense, universities are expected to contact these pharmacy owners, reach an agreement with them either on contract basis or mutual agreement on student internship, that way, all the student has to do is resume at where ever they are posted to. This creates some level of confidence between the universities, pharmacy owners and the students.

If universities in North Cyprus want to make life why studying comfortable for students of African origin, something has to be done about this. Students should not be allowed to go through this mental stress as it is capable of affecting their studies.

We encourage more students to speak out on this and let the authorities know what they are going through.