UBC WUSC

Shine A Light event (October 9, 2009)!

2009-10-14T15:10:00.001-07:00

On Friday, October 9th in downtown Vancouver, WUSC UBC collaborated with WUSC local committees at SFU and VIU in a spontaneous action event to raise awareness and funds for the WUSC Shine A Light campaign (shinealight.wusc.ca)

WUSC UBC has created a new best practices guide!

2009-10-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

With the collaboration of SRP students past and present, the UBC Geography Dept., SRP coordinators and leading practitioners in refugee settlement, we have now completed our WUSC UBC Best Practices Guide. Look for it at www.wuscubc.net & happy reading!

Some more good times from our dinner party

2009-03-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

SRP Social

2009-02-16T00:58:00.000-08:00

December 2007- Rose Higgens and Glen Peterson hold Workshop

2008-11-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

SRP NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP
On Friday, November 9th the SRP hosted a national training
workshop as part of WUSC’s 61th Annual General Assembly.
More than 110 LC members from across the country attended
the session!
The training began with a sponsorship overview by Asni, followed
by a video presentation of refugee camps in Kenya. Tariku
Kebede, a student from University of Waterloo sponsored in
2006-07, and Nimrod Andrew, former Burmese sponsored
student at University of Saskatchewan, shared their stories and
gave tips to committees on how to best support sponsored
students during the 12-month sponsorship period. Glen Peterson
(WUSC-UBC Faculty Advisor), Rose Higgins (former
UBC Local Committee member) and Maureen Flynn (NSAC
Local Committee Member) shared their experience on how to
institutionalize the SRP.

The 2007 Referendum

2008-11-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

It's been a decade since UBC last had a referendum for the Student Refugee Program. So building on the success of our WUSC predessors, we look reflect back on the 1997 referendum, and look forward to an even more prosperous future for the SRP!

Below is an article published a decade ago after winning the first AMS referendum in favor of the SRP:

Refugees pursue studies thanks to campus help
by Gavin Wilson
Staff writer
In his native Rwanda, Willy Rangira lived in fear for four years. It was dangerous to venture out after dark in case he encountered soldiers or bands of Hutu men looking for a Tutsi such as himself.
"I managed to survive the 1994 genocide," he says now, "but when it was over I had to leave my friends and family behind in search of a better future."
He fled to Kenya, where he eked out an existence tutoring French and grew increasingly despondent about his life as a refugee.
Now, thanks to a World University Service Canada (WUSC) program for refugee students, Rangira is studying first-year Arts at UBC. He is one of three students who have recently arrived at UBC under the program. The others are Milada Tanovic of Bosnia and Joseph Bartel of Sudan.
"The challenge of adjusting to life in a new country is difficult for anyone," said Glen Peterson, assistant professor of History and the WUSC-UBC faculty adviser, "but it is often especially difficult for refugee students who have been forced to flee their home countries."
"Most of the refugee students who have come to UBC have completed their degrees and gone on to meaningful careers. Some have earned master's degrees and PhDs," he added.
This year UBC will welcome three new WUSC-sponsored students: Pascaline Nsekerabanyanka and Valery Kiyogama from Burundi and Huang Junfeng from China.
WUSC is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to involving Canadians in international development in Canada and overseas.
The UBC branch dates back to 1947 and has been sponsoring refugee students since 1981. In the past 16 years, 23 refugee students have studied at UBC.
The student refugee sponsorship program is run entirely by UBC student volunteers who make up the local WUSC committee on campus. They arrange admission, housing and course registration for students before their arrival, and provide personal support throughout the year. Sponsored students automatically become members of the local committee.
WUSC's national executive director Marc Dolgin was recently on campus to sign a revised refugee student support agreement. The agreement includes increased funding from the Alma Mater Society and the Office of Awards and Financial Aid.
Awards and Financial Aid provides a bursary for refugee students that this year was raised to include tuition fees and a book allowance for up to three students per year for the duration of their academic program.
"This makes UBC the leading university in Canada for providing bursary support for refugee students," Peterson said.
Last year, UBC students voted in a referendum to commit one dollar per student to the refugee program, doubling their earlier contribution.
As well, the UBC Faculty Association provides an annual donation of $10,000 to support refugee student sponsorship and other WUSC activities on campus including book drives for needy universities abroad and overseas study opportunities for UBC students.

Students without borders

2007-09-23T06:17:00.001-07:00

Students Without Borders is a WUSC program that enables Canadian university and college students to participate in exciting, volunteer learning opportunities in South America, Africa, and Asia.

Students without Borders (SWB) offers three different types of placements: volunteer, internship and co-op. All placements last between 6weeks and 4months in developing countries around the world.

By enrolling in a directed studies course under the mentorship of a professor in your field, you should be able to gain academic credit towards your UBC degree.

If you are interested in SWB and/or other other overseas opportunites through WUSC (such as the annual international seminar that takes for 6 weeks in a different developing country) come to the
WUSC UBC information session:
Date: Monday, October 1^st from 5:00-6:30 pm

Location: Brock Hall, Room 2001 (upstairs on the second floor)

Looking forward to seeing you there!

More information available at:
www.wusc.ca (click on Students without borders icon)
AND
Canadian students share their experiences overseas at the SWB blog:
http://www.swborders.org/

Current UBC student understaking SWB placement in Botswana sponsored by:
StoneAge Art Gallery, MegsonFitzpatrick Insurance, Shoppers On Campus

World Refugee Day in Vancouver

2007-08-18T11:40:00.002-07:00

In recognition of World Refugee Day on June 20th, the
Canadian Red Cross and Vancouver Refugee Council
organized a day’s event on the theme: “Taking Refuge
Among Us” at the Vancouver Public Library.
WUSC-UBC managed to secured a table and showcased
the Student Refugee Program (SRP) in its silver jubilee
year. The program was attended by WUSC UBC alumni
Ahmed Khan and former SRP coordinator Rose Higgins.
Other collaborators to the days event included Amnesty
International, Immigrant Service Society (ISS) of BC, Canadian
Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee
of BC and SOS Canada.

Community Engagement

2007-08-18T11:40:00.001-07:00

The UBC local committee is proud to have one of the
most active Student Refugee Programs in the country.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary on campus, former SRP
students and friends have joined together to raise
money to support local community initiatives through a
fundraiser festival.
Some of the proceeds will be donated to the South Sudanese
Association of BC After School Tutoring Program
in an effort to address the dropout rate of Sudanese
youth in B.C. The Jabulani planning team embodies
the passionate dedication of our SRP students.
Thanks to members of the BC community in making this
initiative feasible.

Helping Refugee Students Find Jobs

2007-08-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

With the help of facilitator Eyob Naizghi – UBC’s first sponsored student and current executive director of MOSAIC, an
immigrant and refugee support center, WUSC students and alumni joined forces to tackle the question: “Now that I have
graduated, how to I get a job and stay career focused?” International Seminar Alumni, former WUSC UBC students, and
even a WUSC Ottawa representative gave advice on networking, resume writing, job seeking strategies and so forth.
Special attention was given to the transition faced by WUSC Student Refugee Program (SRP) students graduating from
university, and the cultural and social challenges facing current SRP students in the labour market. Countless sheets of
flip chart paper filled with words of wisdom have been transformed into a PowerPoint that will be made available for all
future SRP students and the wider UBC community.

Alumni Reunion with UBC President

2007-08-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

WUSC-UBC Alumni Reunion 1948-2007
The World University Service Canada (WUSC) UBC alumni reunited at a dinner hosted by the president and Vice
Chancellor of UBC on April 30th 2007 at the Norman Mackenzie House, UBC Vancouver Campus. The program was
chaired by Maurice Copithorne, Q.C and attended by many of the summer alumni as far back as 1949.
Speeches were given by old and new alumni who have attended the summer internship to share their international experiences.
The gathering provided an excellent opportunity to also congratulate Glen Peterson as this year’s recipient
of the Presidents Award of Excellence. The event ended with acknowledgements to members to the UBC community
who have made it possible for WUSC-UBC to thrive during the past six decades. President Stephen Toope, who is currently
the chairman of the board of directors of WUSC in Ottawa gave an inspirational speech on the ideals of international
service and promised to keep this nation-wide program as an exemplar of global citizenship.
Networking

2007-04-06T00:41:00.000-07:00

Kelele: Swahili word meaning "noise"

And boy did we ever make noise on Saturday night. With two bands, a french magician and the two hottest DJ's in town, WUSC's end of the year bash was the place to be. Ok...so we only made $80, whatever, we still ended the year with a bang

JUBULANI

2007-03-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

http://afrosummerfest.com/home.htm

Please check out this phenomenal website, to see all the hard work WUSC sponsored students and friends are putting into Vancouver's newest upbeat summer festival.

Jabulani Afrosummer Fest (JAF) is an initiative of UBC Students and friends who intend to raise funds to support the near-collapsing Student Refugee Program (SRP). As many of you know, The SRP, a program of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), has helped sponsor hundreds of disadvantaged students throughout the world since 1970s. For over 25 years, SRP has heavily relied on the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for funding. However, "CIDA's financial support ended in September 2004 because of a shift in the government of

Canada

's priorities."

Students of WUSC have started up their own creative initiative to help address this problem, and they have already had some great success at the afrobeats fundraiser at Harambe

Keep checking this site for more updates!

Global Student Speakers Bureau

2007-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

For those of you who were inspired by the Refugee Reality Night, and who like to share your stories with the University and Greater Vancouver community, please consider joining the Global Student Speakers Bureau (GSSB) an awesome organization here on campus, created by non other than the fabulous Winnie Cheung!

Oxfam-WUSC movie series

2007-03-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

Oxfam and WUSC are joining forces to create the first ever "only awesome inspiring movies allowed" film series! We will be showing films every second thrusday at 5:00 in the resource group center of the SUB. more details to come

Refugee Reality Night

2007-03-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

The Fairview social space was transformed on the evening of March 1^st, in a way that extended beyond aesthetics. Sure, the countless WUSC posters, display boards, colorful rugs, African throws and paper lanterns did create a comfortable ambiance. But it was the connection between seven student speakers and an audience of over forty, that created a true sense of community.

The night began with a short video from LINK, a community-based NGO that partners with high school refugee students in the greater Vancouver area to try and offer social and academic support. One of UBC’s residence advisors shared her experiences of growing up in the former soviet union and living in various refugee camps due to the political leanings of her parents. She was followed by Garang Abuk who offered insight into refugee life at Kakumba camp, emphasizing the social problems that arise from a lack of educational opportunities. Wondim spoke next about the determinism and social activism of refugees who have nothing to loose accept their will. Abdual, a refugee from Somalia, then gave an impromptu account of how he left a refugee camp in Botswana and made his way to UBC. Last, but not least, was Ahmed Khan, a UBC graduate from Sierra Leone, who took a more intellectual and academic approach to these issues.

Overall the night stimulated a lot of engaging discussion – lasting over three hours (don’t worry, there was lots of Thai food and Pizza to keep everyone full of energy). In the end, our night achieved its goals: it brought a much deeper awareness and understanding to a lot of fundamental issues surrounding the refugee experience, and inspired many people to come ask us about WUSC and how they can get involved. Thanks to everyone for their enthusiasm, time and effort!.

CPI Annual Gathering

2007-03-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

The CPI gathering is an annual event at UBC, and this year it was held in Pres. Stephen Toope’s personal home. Selected students from organizations on campus that focus on international issues were invited to attend, along with community business leaders and consulates from around the world. Laura-Ashley Wright and Robyn Plasterer represented WUSC, and even participated in the evening’s welcome (in French and Japanese respectively). The night proved very beneficial, as it offered us a chance to network with like-minded organizations, and brag about all the wonderful things the local committee has been involved with this year.

Candle Light Vigil

2006-12-02T22:05:00.000-08:00

To commemorate World Aids Day on December 1st, WUSC joined forces with the African Caribbean Association to lead a candle light vigil outside of the SUB at dusk. With candles placed in the snow to signify our remembrance, we were inspired by three speakers who shared their tales of HIV/AIDS activism

Gallery Night for Aids Week

2006-12-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

DJ Bakumba and Mmeli once again joined forces to support a great cause - this time spinning beats Oxfam's World Aids Day fundraiser!

Make Poverty History Campaign

2006-12-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

Although not exactly on October 17th, WUSC UBC still remained determined to hold a Make Poverty History Campaign. Instead of fundaising, we petitioned our government to enusr the next federal budget includes measures that contribute to making povery history by increasing canadian aid by 18% annually and committing to a plan to meet the internationally agreed target for aid spending of 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2015.

The campaign consisted of setting up a booth in the SUB and encouraging students to trace their hands and sign their names on huge rolls of white paper which were sent to parliament

Botswana Calander

2006-12-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, the Student Refugee Program at UBC (managed through WUSC), sponsors approximately 2-3 refugee students to come study at UBC each year. Each refugee is sponsored by a WUSC group on campus that raises the necessary funds to support the student for one year and negotiates with their college or university to waive tuition, residence fees or donate other items. The onlyprogram of its kind in Canada, the SRP enables individual refugees to pursue their education and a better life in an environment free of violence or fear. At the same time it offers students and faculty onCanadian campuses a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about refugee and development issues. Unfortunately, because of loss of funding, this year UBC students need to raise $7500.00"

How are we gonna do this? By selling a whole lot of calanders - organized by the FABULOUS Laura Ashley Wright
Calendars are $15 (tax and everything included), and the attached photos do not do it justice!
Please HELP us meet our goal, and enjoy a beautiful token of an amazing African country in the process!

If you’re interested in purchasing a calendar, please email WUSC UBC at: info@wuscubc.com

Annual Assembly in Ottawa

2006-12-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

What is the Gulu Walk all about?

2006-10-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

"On Saturday, people in over 80 cities around the world will take to the streets with a cry for peace in northern Uganda. We call it GuluWalk.The event started with the daily footsteps of just two Canadians, who attempted to draw attention to the horror faced by the children of northern Uganda, who every night must march from their home villages to find shelter in larger towns. In less than 16 months, it has grown into an impassioned worldwide movement for peace." - National Post

GULU WALK

2006-10-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

WUSC WHISTLER RETREAT

2006-10-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun was to be had on Oct 14th as we departed for our WUSC weekend retreat.
Here is a brief outline of what we planned for the rest of the semester:

1. Ethiopian film presentation at UBC Oct 20th, 12:00-2:00
Organized by Mars and the Ethiopian community of vancouver
Posters avaliable outside rm 2729 in Fairview Residence

2.Gulu Walk this Saturday Oct 21st
Meet outside the Beanery in Fairview Residence at 3:00

3.Make Poverty History campaign and SPR promotion, end of October (date TBA)

4.Producing a 2007 Calendar with photos from Botswana (which are amazing!!)
This is a huge Pan-Canadian fundraiser for the SRP Program organized by Laura-Ashley. Wusc local chapters from across the country will take part in the sales of these calanders which will help raise $ and awareness for the SRP program!

5.December 1st World Aids Day: WUSC will help organize a candle light vigil and international song and dance celebration. The day is a collaborative effort with many groups on campus. Meeting time: Wednsday 6-7pm at the Wellness Center (SUB)

These are the projects in the works. We need all the help and enthusiasm we can get, so come out to the meetings and get on board!!

New Exec Positions:
Treasurer: Gogi
SRP Promotion: Ahmed
Current SRP Deputees: Nik and Bez
Booking Agent: Mars
Secretary: Mmeli

2006-10-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

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2006-10-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday Night Success.

2006-10-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyones hard work during clubs days promoting our first fundraiser of the year...WUSC, IPC and Oxfam raised almost $400 on Sunday!

2006-09-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

The fabulous poster courtesy of the IPC!

Hiking in North Van

2006-09-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos from our fabulous hike this past weekend to Lynn Canyon in North Van. Thanks Rose for organizing it...the epic journey on the seabus was a profoundly lifechanging experience for me (hahaha).

Uniterra/WUSC Conference in Ottawa

2006-08-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

The annual Uniterra conference was held in Ottawa once again this August. Robyn (one of the two fabulous co-chairs for the upcoming year) attended the three day event which looked at the following:
- promoting fair trade on campus
- the millennium development goals
- the millennium pledge
- the bike for AIDS campaign
- Make Poverty History
- improving communications with other WUSC chapters
- improving communications for advertising
- working with the media
-Funding for the student refugee program
- Promoting WUSC on campus
- BIG changes to the WUSC budget
- Increasing the role and responisiblity of the WUSC Local Committees

There were 53 delegates at this years conference - all of whom were enthusiastic about the idea of working together. This means that there is a good chance we might collaborate on some projects with universities from across the country.

We wont have to do ALL of the proposed events for the year. However, the items in bold are pressing issues which we can work together on to develop new creative intitiatives. YAY!

Road Trip to Victoria July 06

2006-07-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

A few pictures of Canada Day long weekend in Victoria, courtesy of Melly

Welcome to WUSC 2006!

2006-07-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

WHAT DOES WUSC STAND FOR? The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a national organization that emphasizes the importance of education in constructing a more equitable world. With over 50 chapters in universities and colleges across the country, WUSC generates cross-cultural understanding and cooperation through a number of various initiatives. At the forefront of WUSC’s agenda is the Student Refugee Program (SRP) which sponsors approximately forty students each year to study in Canada. With funds from the AMS, student fees and other sources the UBC WUSC committee is able to sponsor up to four students each year. Most of these students come from East Africa, bringing with them a sound academic record and an even stronger commitment to social responsibility.

WHAT IS WUSC UBC ALL ABOUT??

The UBC chapter of WUSC invites anyone from the university community to join us in our efforts to fundraise for local and overseas projects.

The weekly meetings for the upcoming fall semester have yet to be schedualed, but they will most likely be either Tuesdays or Thursdays 12:30-1:30.

Please feel free to come out & join us!