This summer I interned with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) for their Student Refugee Program (SRP). Along with their overseas team, I helped facilitate the pre-departure program with refugee students getting ready to be resettled to Canada. I had 14 students from Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi and 4 students from Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania.
I am a social work student who returned to school at a later age after working in the community for several years. My passion resides in helping vulnerable communities and empowering them to perform well in different areas of life. This internship opportunity was perfect for my studies. I am also a member of WUSC students sponsoring group at Â鶹AV and was familiar with the SRP program. Through this program I met SRP students and alumni. I was fascinated by their journeys of resilience and success that I partially related to, having come to Canada from a different country myself a few years ago. At that time, I was not prepared to life in Canada, but I was so lucky to connect with a friend who showed me the ropes within my first few weeks.
I wanted to be that person for the incoming SRP students and share my knowledge and available resources with them.
I was supposed to travel to Malawi for this volunteering opportunity, but COVID-19 changed my plans. When the opportunity to support the students remotely was discussed, I didn't hesitate! I was unsure how this was going to be possible given the distance, technology challenges in Malawi and Tanzania and the whole world going through a pandemic. I just kept reminding myself and the students that learning is possible even in uncertain times; that we need to keep the morale up and use every means available to stay connected. I have never met these young men and women in person, but we have established a strong bond using online resources.
The program covers everything from the history and geography of Canada, academic life, social skills, healthcare and wellness, finances, employment, diversity and inclusion, and Canadian culture. The students receive materials to review in small groups and "meet " with me weekly or biweekly via WhatsApp to discuss what they learnt and ask questions. We also use short video clips and pictures where I show them how things work in Canada. This is my favourite part of my assignment. We call it #FunFactSunday. I should mention that 2 of the groups were French speakers so I had to communicate with them in French.
Adapting to remote work was quite a challenge as the countries where the students reside have difficulties with reliable internet. They are not able to participate in a live webinar or use a more interactive platform due to the lack of personal computers or cellphones are not working properly. They get supported through WUSC to purchase just enough phone credits to access use WhatsApp. Therefore, I had to rely on engaging written communication and sometimes voice notes to facilitate building a relationship with them. I am very impressed of how well we were able to build a rapport despite those hindrances.
I believe this program contributes to giving young people in vulnerable settings great hope for the future that they wouldn't otherwise have in their country of asylum. Being successful in college or university is a challenge in itself; so, I can only imagine how challenging it can be to do it in combination with coming from a completely different culture in your early 20s, speaking another language and being away from your family and friends. My job consists of equipping these students with as many tools as possible to successfully integrate in Canada. I have no doubt that they will do just that and more!
The funds I received helped me with purchasing technology tools to carry out my duties; which would have been challenging if I did not have a personal laptop and access to the internet this summer. I was also able to secure stable living expenses to stay in Quebec that I had not previously arranged since I thought I was traveling overseas.
I am very thankful to the King family for the Hinda Ordower King Award of Merit, specifically the families of Richard, Joel, and Norman King for making this opportunity possible for me.
