Ayeray Medina Bustos, Argentina: Erasmus Mundus Master in Applied Ethics

The Woman Behind the Erasmus Mundus Logo: A Journey of Resilience and Unbelievable Strength

When I reflect on my journey, I can't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how everything unfolded. My name is Ayeray Medina Bustos, and I’m a clinical psychologist from Argentina. Life has always been a mix of challenges and triumphs for me, and in 2005, something truly transformative happened: I won the Erasmus Mundus scholarship to study Applied Ethics in Sweden. It felt like a dream come true, an opportunity I had never imagined could be mine. 

At the time, I was a single mother with a 4-year-old son. I had just separated, and life was full of uncertainty. But this scholarship, this chance to study abroad, gave me something I had longed for hope and a sense of new beginnings. It wasn’t just about advancing my career or education; it was about building a new life for my son and me, in a place where we could start fresh. 

Sweden was incredible. I was selected as the student representative for Erasmus Mundus, and that meant I had the opportunity to travel to Brussels several times, working with the communication team. I got to meet students from all over the world, learn about their cultures, and share ideas with people with completely different perspectives. The entire experience was enriching in ways I can’t fully put into words, it wasn’t just academic; it was a life-changing personal growth journey. 

The entire experience was enriching in ways I can't fully put into words

In 2007, something else unexpected happened. Erasmus Mundus launched a competition to create a new logo, and I decided to enter. I was so passionate about what the program represented as education as a universal right, an opportunity for everyone, regardless of where they come from. When I designed the logo, I poured all my feelings into it. The blue colour, for me, symbolized the sky and the oceans vast and limitless, connecting all parts of the world. When I found out I had won, I was overjoyed. That logo is still used today, and every time I see it, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come. 

When I designed the [EMA] logo, I poured all my feelings into it.

But it didn’t stop there. In 2012, I won another contest this one was about what happened after the Erasmus Mundus experience. My journey led me to another scholarship, this time to study for my PhD at Leeds Metropolitan University in England, now called Leeds Beckett University. There, I focused my research on the restoration and reconstruction of post-conflict societies, particularly in Argentina. This topic was deeply personal for me because of the painful history my country endured during the dictatorship. I wanted to explore the paths to justice, healing, and reconciliation—something that resonated deeply with my own experiences. 

I wanted to explore the paths to justice, healing, and reconciliation

After my PhD, I returned to Argentina and began working for the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an advisor in Human Rights. I was fortunate to assist in the public trials of crimes against humanity, helping survivors who had endured unimaginable pain testify and seek justice. Given my own family’s history most of my family was kidnapped during the dictatorship, including my parents this work felt like a calling. I was not only helping others but also healing a part of myself through this work.