Student Refugee Program

I am Matabishi, a student at the University of Toronto. I am grateful for the life-changing opportunity which I have been given through the World University Service of Canada – Student Refugee Program. I have been experiencing a transformative journey which has granted me countless chances to impact everyone around me positively.

Not only has being a part of this program provided me with access to quality education, but it has also allowed me to integrate into a vibrant and diverse academic environment. The support and resources offered have been instrumental in helping me adapt to life in Canada, and I am continually inspired by the commitment to fostering a welcoming atmosphere for students from all walks of life.

Moreover, I have had the privilege of connecting with fellow students and faculty members, fostering a spirit of inclusivity, understanding, and cooperation. This has enriched my personal development as well as allowed me to share my unique perspectives and learn from others in a mutually beneficial exchange.

I am deeply thankful for the generosity and support that have been extended to me, and I am committed to using the knowledge and experiences gained here to effect positive change in the world. The impact of this opportunity will resonate throughout my life, and I will continue to pay it forward by being an advocate for education and a catalyst for positive transformation.

Once again, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the life-changing opportunity I have been granted, and I am committed to paying it forward by using my education and experiences to make a positive difference in the world.

Hello, My name is Abdulrahman Mubarak. I arrived in Canada through WUSC’s Student Refugee Program (SRP) in August 2022.

The SRP program gives eligible refugee youth an opportunity to be in a place where they are safe and can build a bright future for themselves.

While I was a refugee, I faced a lot of challenges from being demoralized, depressed, and sometimes being mocked for my dreams. But I always motivated myself, because I had a dream I needed to achieve and here I am.

For the past months that I have been in Canada, I’ve spent a good amount of time with the UTSU-New College Local Committee, from the first minute I saw them at the airport until now. The supportive, helpful and friendly members of the Local Committee made my settlement in my new home easier than I thought.

Moreover, during my first few days here, I was bored and lonely because I had arrived before the Fall semester started, but when school started everything changed:  Making new friends from around the world, and meeting with people from different cultures was one of the most exciting things I have ever done.

Furthermore, being a student at U of T is a great experience for anybody who seeks knowledge because through many libraries here on campus, I can now find rich-resources. 

 

Ultimately, the great efforts from WUSC-SRP that allow refugee youth to access higher education will always be appreciated. I hope that someday I’ll be able to offer the same support to students in need of it.

I arrived in Canada – Pearson International Airport on August 27th 2021. I had mixed reactions. Part of me was excited about the new adventure. Beginning a new life, making new friends and above all, starting my post-secondary education. The other part of me was scared of starting a new life in a totally different environment so far away from home. I was wondering about how best to integrate in the new society.

From the airport, I was taken to the Delta Chelsea Hotel where I spent my 14 days in quarantine. Quarantine was quite boring at first, however, I got used to it. During the quarantine period, I managed to reconnect with family and friends via social media. It was the best feeling ever. A number of people from the UTSU-New College Local Committee were able to check in with me as well on a daily basis. This made the days fly by.

September 10th 2021 marked the end of quarantine and my first day in New College residence. I was so happy to finally breathe fresh air and get to meet members of my Local Committee who have been extremely supportive throughout my quarantine period. They have been offering both emotional and social support. I will never take that for granted. Canada is actually a safe haven for me because of them. Their warm welcome made me feel right at home.

In the last few days I have been able to attend some of my classes in-person and the rest online. I am getting used to different types of foods unlike the early days when eating new foods was more scary. I am experiencing minimum challenges so far thanks to all the wonderful support that I have received.

Hello! My name is Jok. I was once a refugee in Kenya and came to Canada via WUSC-SRP in August 2023. Being a refugee was a moment in my life where I felt like I was being ‘tested’ by life because it’s a moment that posed numerous challenges to me, ranging from poor academics, poor healthcare to mental and emotional breakdown, among others. Having grown up in such a hostile environment, resilience and hope were key for my survival. It is mostly nearly impossible to dream in a refugee camp but optimism and hope are the way through these hazy visions of such beautiful dreams.

Thanks to WUSC-SRP and all the donors, organizations and individuals who support this program; because of them, the dreams of thousands of young refugees who rely on hope and optimism are made valid and actualized.

I would like to express my gratitude to the UTSU-New College Local Committee for receiving and giving me all the support I needed to settle in. It would have been difficult to integrate into the new community but thanks to the UTSU-New College Committee and their continued support, I am able to blend comfortably. Not only do I feel at home, but I have also found a new family and friends from UTSU that I am going to cherish all the time.

My name is Jaffar, I was a refugee in Kenya before arriving in Canada. Being a refugee for almost a decade was a devastating period in my life, but it didn’t have to end that way. The same life taught me enough to envision my future. I have always been positive and maintained that positivity over the many challenges that I have faced. I never wanted to be a refugee and neither does anyone deserve to be one, but sometimes there are no alternatives.

Through the WUSC-Student Refugee Program, I was fortunate enough to start a new life in Canada, and arrived at the U of T in December 2020. It is like a golden ticket to be here and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I hope we all see and realize that beyond a ‘refugee’ is an individual who is a parent, a child, a game-changer, and are at their most needy points in their lives. Helping directly or indirectly you become part of the bigger story and the future story that I tell.

My name is Skylar, I was a once among the LBGTQ+ aslyum seekers in Uganda, one of the most homophobic countries in the world. Being strong and hoping for a better future made me fight for my rights and those who shared the same pain with me. I am now safe and sound here in Canada, achieving my dreams at the greatest University in Toronto. 

Being among the Student Refugee Program (SRP students) makes me feel alive because if it wasn’t this, who knows if I would be here. I am pretty sure that I don’t only have safety and education, but I have a caring community at this University, and they are still doing all they can to help those in need as well.

Young refugees have many talents and power to contribute to the world. However, they are being victims of the politics of their home countries which make them lose a chance to continue their education. To students and everyone who donate to this cause to make sure students like me get back to school, are my heroes and I am glad I am a part of this journey.

Hi there! My name is Deng and I arrived through the WUSC-Student Refugee Program in August 2018. I was welcomed and received by the UTSU-New College Local Committee who supported my integration at U of T. For me, coming to a new environment to start from scratch was challenging yet exciting as well since I have always been optimistic about the future since the time I left my home country.

I would like to pass my gratitude to the WUSC-SRP, organizations and individuals supporting the programs for the impact they have on transforming the lives of young refugees worldwide. Being a refugee is just a status and when given the opportunity, refugees can accomplish anything like everyone.