August 18 2011, OTTAWA – This month, 72 refugee students will be touching down in Canada to begin a new life and start a promising future.
From August 16thto the 30thth, these young men and women from the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya, the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, and Iraqi refugees from Syria will arrive to attend school. Over 50 universities and colleges across Canada have helped sponsor them.
Many of these students fled their country of origin to escape violence and persecution. They continue to face hardships while in the camps with few opportunities for higher education. Most spend their entire lives in the camps.
Through World University Service of Canada’s Student Refugee Program, student refugees are able resettle in Canada as permanent residents and attend university and college. WUSC’s student-led Local Committees on campus sponsor the student(s) and cover all their costs for a minimum of one year.
Please contact Michelle Manks (613.761.3705) or Asni Mekonnen (613.761.3656) at WUSC for more information on the SRP or to set up a potential interview with a newly arrived or former sponsored student or a Local Committee member in your area. We welcome you to come take pictures of the students’ arrivals at your city’s airport.
Secondary Contact:
Sandra Oey
Publications Officer
Communications and Development
soey@wusc.ca
613-761-3656
--
SRP at a glance:
- Began in 1978
- Over 1160 students sponsored
- Over 80 student-led Local Committees across Canada have helped sponsor student refugees
Life in the camps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zR_Y7Sn3GM
Connect with WUSC:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/wusc.ca
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/worlduniservice
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WUSCEUMC
-30-