World University Service of Canada
Windsor



Knowledge for an equitable world
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Student Refugee Program (SRP)

Formaly the "Student Refugee Sponsorship Program"

The 1951 Convention on Refugees describes a refugee as:
"A person who is outside his/ her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/ her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/ herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution."

Each year approximately 40 student refugees enter Canada through the WUSC Student Refugee Sponsorship Program. The program is directed towards student refugees who long for a chance to continue their post- secondary studies and resettle in Canada as landed immigrants. Over the past 20 years more than 600 student refugees have been sponsored by over 70 WUSC Local Committees and Sponsoring Groups on university and college campuses across Canada.

The WUSC sponsorship program began in 1977 because of an urgent request from the WUS International office in Geneva for assistance in the immediate resettlement of a young student. The student had fled his native Zimbabwe and subsequently had been jailed in Zambia. Working through Amnesty International, this student was able to leave Zambia and enter Canada through a sponsorship at Carleton University.

Since that time, WUSC has coordinated a program that privately sponsors refugee students to come to Canada to pursue secondary education. In doing so, WUSC has been working towards achieving its objective of "promoting human development and global understanding through education and training". By assisting people whose education has been interrupted by war and/or persecution, WUSC’s sponsorship program also contributes to greater understanding among students and faculty and staff on Canadian campuses to the situation of refugees throughout the world.

WUSC considers the SRSP a significant part of its international development work. The SRSP is a tool for Canadian students to deepen their understanding about refugee and development issues, and the interconnectedness between global and local issues.

Getting Involved with a Sponsorship Group


The WUSC Local Committee or Sponsoring Group on your campus is looking for volunteers like you who have the enthusiasm and energy it takes to raise the necessary money (and have fun doing it) and to be there for the refugee student during the sponsorship year. The commitment doesn't end once the money is raised. Refugee students need your friendship and support to settle in a new country with different customs.

In many developing countries, students who engage in development efforts with their local community find themselves in danger of persecution. It is often the best motivated and most dedicated members of the academic community who are jailed or forced into exile. This can be an important factor in the long-term development prospects of the countries involved.

WUSC considers its refugee support activities to be an essential part of its international development program. WUSC Local Committees form the backbone of this work. Join your campus Local Committee and help make a world of difference through local action!