How Voting “YES” Will Save a Life

Voting “YES” to increasing the WUSC Levy will help the BU WUSC SRP (Student Refugee Program) provide TWO students with the opportunity to change their lives for the better.

What is a refugee? A refugee is a person who is forced to flee his/her home country to seek protection from harm. As defined by the Convention for Refugees, refugees are persons who are outside the country of their nationality and are unable to or unwilling to return home due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

Realities of a Refugee Camp In most camps refugees are confined to the camps. There is limited food, water, shelter, and health care. They rely solely on aide efforts. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, and cholera are very common. They experience a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. The areas are isolated and crowded.

Hardships such as dust storms, high temperatures, poisonous spiders, snakes, and scorpions, outbreaks of disease, floods, and drought, among others are regular occurrences.

Access to Education Educational opportunities in refugee camps is crucial for the development of their communities. Due to the shortage of qualified teachers, adequate and relevant curriculums, lack of access to education for girls, poor learning environments, lack of learning/teaching materials, and limited parental support, it is increasingly more difficult for refugees to have access to quality primary and secondary education in the camps. Very few post-secondary opportunities are provided. These challenges create a sense of hopelessness as they wait indefinitely for a chance to get an education and reach their full potential.

How YOU can help Through WUSC’s Student Refugee Program young refugees are able to pursue post-secondary education in Canadian universities and colleges, free from violence and fear. They come to Canada as permanent residents and find a new home. Brandon University is one of over 80 schools across Canada helping these students adapt to their new community and provide basic living expenses and tuition for at least one year.

Currently you help provide ONE with this life-changing opportunity. I urge you to help us help one more. VOTE “YES” TO INCREASING THE WUSC LEVEL – SAVE ANOTHER REFUGEE!