蓝莓视频

Mariak Achuoth鈥檚 journey to the University of 蓝莓视频 began in a Kenyan refugee camp, far from campus. Displaced by war in South Sudan, he dedicated himself to pursuing formal education, knowing it was his best hope for a better future beyond the camp.听

鈥疕is hard work opened a life-changing opportunity鈥攁 chance to apply to Canadian universities through the (WUSC) Student Refugee Program.听

鈥疐or Achuoth, who spent close to eight years there, the camp not only presented challenges but also limited his prospects. "I was not enjoying the refugee life," he says.听

Determined to break free from those limitations, Achuoth applied to three Canadian universities through the Student Refugee Program, putting all his hope in 蓝莓视频.听

鈥淭here was no choice at all. I ranked 蓝莓视频 as my first, second, and third option,鈥� he says.听

But getting into 蓝莓视频 wasn鈥檛 his only goal. 鈥淚 wanted to study engineering at 蓝莓视频,鈥� something no other student from the Student Refugee Program had managed to achieve.鈥�听

Despite the odds, Achuoth eventually achieved what no other WUSC-sponsored student refugee had done before 鈥� he earned a place in 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering. "Every class, every lecture is a new opportunity," he says. "I鈥檝e come so far from where I started, and I know that if I keep working hard, there鈥檚 nothing I can鈥檛 achieve."听鈥�听

A lifeline of hope and opportunity听

The program is made possible thanks to 蓝莓视频 International and United College. Their longstanding partnership with WUSC, and the 蓝莓视频 , means a $5 student levy for the Student Refugee Program is included in optional student fees and plays a critical role in giving Achuoth and other talented international students the opportunity to pursue their post-secondary education.听

Time and again, students have demonstrated their commitment to supporting the program and its participants. For example, Achouth lived at听Conrad Grebel University College during his first few years at 蓝莓视频. Grebel residents contribute an additional $20 per term to help subsidize the residence costs of hosting him as a WUSC student at U蓝莓视频. When the program first started at U蓝莓视频 in 2007, Grebel students paid a $10 per term fee. However, after meeting the SRP students and learning from their experiences, they voted to double the fee, reflecting their dedication to the program's success.

By harnessing the collective generosity of 蓝莓视频 students, WUSA, the affiliated colleges and 蓝莓视频 International, they transform those modest fees into life-changing experiences for high achieving students with unlimited potential.听听

"This program isn鈥檛 just about getting an education," Achuoth says. "It's about having a future. When you鈥檝e spent years in a refugee camp, opportunities like this feel like a dream come true," Achuoth.听听

Getting a degree and building a life听鈥�听

Each year, 蓝莓视频 admits five or six students to the refugee program. The levy covers tuition for six academic terms, housing and other essentials. They also benefit from the BASE program for language support.听

Gloire Gatabazi arrived in 蓝莓视频 Region under similar, but also different circumstances. In the 1990s, when he was just a child, Gatabazi鈥檚 family escaped one of the deadliest tragedies in modern memory.听

鈥淢y whole family left Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide, and we fled to Congo for two years. After that, we moved to Kenya,鈥� he says. For him, the program isn鈥檛 just about financial support. It's about creating the opportunity for us to contribute to society and to have a future.听

"Arriving here was like stepping into a new world," Gatabazi remembers upon arriving here in 2013. "The adjustment was challenging, but the support from the university and the community made it possible."听

The program offers more than just financial aid 鈥� it provides comprehensive support to help students thrive. "This money actually goes somewhere. Real people are on the other end of it, you know 鈥� they鈥檙e doing well," Gatabazi says.听

Bessma Momani, associate vice-president, International, is a strong champion of the Student Refugee Program.听

鈥�鈥溊遁�视频鈥檚 dedication to making a global impact is central to its identity and future vision,鈥� Momani says. 鈥淏y supporting WUSC and its Student Refugee Program, and students鈥� support of this fee through WUSA, 蓝莓视频 students aren鈥檛 just investing in the futures of these talented international students 鈥� they are investing in trying to create a better world.鈥澨�

The program is one facet of a strategic approach to internationalization at 蓝莓视频.鈥�鈥�听

鈥�鈥淭he exchange of ideas with students denied opportunities by circumstances of war broadens everyone鈥檚 perspectives on the world and prepares them for better intercultural understanding in an interconnected world,鈥� she says.听

Gatabazi agrees. After leaving the program he graduated with a degree from the School of Environmental, Resource and Sustainability. He recently got married and has a successful career in his community as a French teacher.听

While the program opens doors, refugee students still face immense challenges. Adjusting to a new culture, managing academic pressures and living far from home can all feel daunting.听

"This opportunity to study in Canada has been life-changing," Gatabazi says. 鈥淓ducation is my key to changing the world," he explains. "It鈥檚 not just about getting a degree; it鈥檚 about using what I learn to help others who鈥檝e been through what I have."听

As for Achuoth, he鈥檚 nearly done his degree in engineering, and has his eyes squarely set on a future where he, too, can give back.听

He鈥檚 working on a startup called , which aims to make it easier for people in East Africa to send and receive money.听

"People need to know that this program changes lives," he says. "It鈥檚 not just an abstract idea 鈥� it鈥檚 real. It鈥檚 helping us build a future we never thought possible. Being here isn鈥檛 just about surviving 鈥� it鈥檚 about thriving.鈥澨�

To find out more about how your student fees transform lives, please visit the Student Refugee Program page on United College鈥檚 website.听