Celebrating solidarity with refugees by building welcoming communities

In celebration of World Refugee Awareness Month, we align with UNHCR’s theme of solidarity with refugees, highlighting that “solidarity means keeping our doors open, celebrating their strengths and achievements, and reflecting on the challenges they face.” The theme of solidarity resonates with one of WUSC’s campaigns, Building Welcoming Communities, as our Local Committee members, volunteers and colleagues play important roles in welcoming refugees.

This June, we are excited to share the story of Stellah, an ambitious and inspiring young refugee from Uganda, and highlight the solidarity shown by WUSC Local Committees that have supported the integration of refugee youths in Canada. It is our hope that these stories will motivate you to celebrate the strengths of people who have been forced to flee their home country, and continue reflecting on the challenges that they face. 

The inspiring journey of a young refugee

Stellah, can you share a bit about your background and journey?

My name is Stellah. I am a 25-year-old female refugee from Uganda. Currently, I am a student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Human Rights and Diversity. Additionally, I am a co-founder of the Hodari Foundation, a refugee-led organization based in the Kyaka II refugee resettlement area in Uganda. 

In the mid-90s, my parents fled Rwanda during the genocide, and I was born in a refugee settlement; it is the only home I have known. Growing up in the refugee camp, I witnessed firsthand the challenges refugees face, including limited access to public services such as education and healthcare, as well as poverty resulting from unemployment and restricted movement. These challenges disproportionately affect girls and women in our community and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to access primary, secondary, and now university education. 

What motivated you to pursue higher education?

Having experienced such challenges in my life and seeing girls like me being unable to go to school, getting married early, and parents experiencing social injustice within my community motivated me to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Social work. People in my community have no hope for tomorrow, but I aim to change the minds of my peers who have lost hope in themselves and to be a role model who has succeeded in life. I want to be a social worker and a future lawyer, professions that will enable me to analyze the policies that affect refugees and enable me to be a policy implementer for my fellow refugees. 

Why did you join the WUSC Local Committee at Wilfrid Laurier University?

I joined this Local Committee because I am passionate about supporting refugees and eager to make a positive impact on their lives. Recognizing the transformative power of education, I saw an opportunity through WUSC to contribute to providing education, livelihood opportunities, and support services to refugee students. Joining WUSC at the Brantford campus of my university allows me to share my skills and knowledge with fellow students who may not be familiar with social policy and the challenges faced by refugees. 

What is one project you’re particularly proud of from this Local Committee? 

One of the projects I am proud of was raising awareness about the Student Refugee Program (SRP). According to UNHCR, only 7% of refugee children can attain a university education. Raising awareness on our campus in partnership with professors and setting up booths enabled students to gain more knowledge about who refugees are and why attending university is significant for them and the world. 

You mentioned that you are the co-founder of a refugee-led organization, Hodari Foundation. Can you tell us more about this foundation’s work and impact? 

Hodari Foundation is a refugee-led organization in Uganda based on Kyaka II refugee resettlement. We work with refugee families, children and youth, women, and people with disabilities in refugee settlements and host communities, strengthening resilience and livelihoods so that they can have a living to sustain themselves and their families. We have trained individuals in environmental preservation and sanitary pad production. Additionally, we have distributed school supplies and paid school fees, provided essential tools to children with albinism, distributed wheelchairs to children with disabilities, and drilled boreholes for water.

What are your hopes for World Refugee Day on June 20th?

On World Refugee Day, I hope to see increased global awareness about the challenges and struggles faced by refugees. The international community must understand why people flee their homes and the hardships they endure in search of safety and a better life. I also hope that this day will prompt governments and policymakers to take meaningful action to improve conditions for refugees, including creating more inclusive policies, increasing funding for assistance programs, and ensuring the protection of refugees’ rights. Recognizing and celebrating the contributions that refugees make to their host communities can help combat negative stereotypes and foster a more welcoming environment. Lastly, I hope that World Refugee Day will inspire a sense of global solidarity and compassion. 

WUSC Local Committees’ efforts to build welcoming communities for refugees

From coast to coast, the initiatives of Local Committees signal their creativity, commitment to WUSC’s mission and values, and solidarity with refugees. Here are some examples:

• At Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, LC members organized an insightful symposium “Hope Away from Home”, addressing various topics including the support systems for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in this province and Canada in general.
• At the Memorial University of Newfoundland, LC members and event attendees wrote 35 welcome cards and letters in preparation for the arrival of a refugee student on campus.
• In British Columbia, the Simon Fraser University LC organized a community kitchen, introducing SRP students to Canadian food and other nutrition techniques.

We are immensely grateful to all Local Committee members who play essential roles in building welcoming communities for refugees on their campus, from organizing public engagement events, to offering social and academic support to students under the Student Refugee Program.