![\"Reem](\"https:\/\/yfile.news.yorku.ca\/files\/2016\/02\/Reem-FB.jpg\")
<\/a>Reem Alhaj (image: Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n
She\u2019s a vibrant, outspoken 27 year old who\u2019s path to higher learning has been less than traditional, but more than meaningful.<\/p>\n
Rewind seven years, and Alhaj was living in her homeland of Syria, working and exceling in an administrative role with an international corporation. It was a secure job with opportunities \u2013 but she knew she wanted more, and resolved to pursue an education in Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized that this job would not let me reach what I was aiming for,\u201d she said, adding she had lost faith in the education system in Syria and quit school at age 14.<\/p>\n
Alhaj began to save her earnings to fund her dream \u2013 a dream, she recalls, that most people dismissed as unattainable, despite her determination.<\/p>\n
A few years later, however, the political climate in Syria became perilous and Alhaj was forced to flee her country and seek refuge in Lebanon. It was then, after leaving her home and her job, she began to cast her own doubts on the possibility of studying abroad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI almost started to think it was not going to happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her doubts continued to weigh down her optimism, even after discovering the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program (SRP) \u2013 an initiative that works to resettle refugees in Canada and facilitate opportunities for refugees to attend Canadian post-secondary institutions. It\u2019s a non-governmental, non-denominational organization with chapters all across Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a different case from most students (applying),\u201d said Alhaj. \u201cUsually they pick people who have finished high school, but since I was 14 I haven\u2019t been in school.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, there was also her age; at 26, she would be a considered a mature student \u2013 surely, she thought, another strike against her.<\/p>\n
But, in a month\u2019s time she was interviewed and accepted into the program, and offered a spot at 快播视频.<\/p>\n
![\"WUSC](\"https:\/\/yfile.news.yorku.ca\/files\/2016\/02\/WUSC-FB.jpg\")
<\/a>WUSC members Hibonura A Haye, Reem Alhaj, Samah Al-Nachawati and Reem Aljaya (image: Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n
Alhaj was selected and sponsored by a committee of students at 快播视频 representing the on-campus student chapter of WUSC. Their job, as volunteers in the committee, is to provide support to incoming refugee students.<\/p>\n
The committee receives funds from current York students who pay a referendum-approved levy that goes toward tuition and accommodation costs for the sponsored students. That coffer allows an opportunity for one student, each year, to study at York\u2019s Keele campus and one student, every three years, to study at the Glendon campus.<\/p>\n
In addition to financial assistance, WUSC\u2019s role is also vital in the resettlement process.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of these refugee students are coming to campus alone,\u201d said Don Dippo, professor in the Faculty of Education and faculty advisor for WUSC. \u201cWhen a WUSC student comes, part of the difficulty for them is leaving their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
WUSC steps in to ease that transition \u2013 they meet the students at the airport, help them with finding winter clothing, setting up cell phones, finding accommodation, navigating campus and day-to-day activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey provide what, ordinarily, friends and family would provide,\u201d said Dippo. \u201cIt\u2019s all about helping them get established and getting settled in both academically and socially \u2013 it\u2019s absolutely crucial in the first years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though Alhaj had little trouble adjusting to her new life, her experience as a WUSC-sponsored refugee student gave her a unique perspective. She saw some gaps in the way the local WUSC chapter was operating, and joined the committee. She currently volunteers as co-chair.<\/p>\n
![\"WUSC](\"https:\/\/yfile.news.yorku.ca\/files\/2016\/02\/WUSC-leave-a-message-FB.jpg\")
<\/a>WUSC invites 快播视频 students to leave positive messages for the incoming refugee students (image: Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n
She worked with the committee to push for changes that included tuition waivers from the University for refugee students, and better communication within the committee itself.<\/p>\n
Her work with WUSC has aligned with an important milestone for 快播视频. In response to the global refugee crisis, the University announced increased support for refugee students. Effective 2016, the University is making available five four-year tuition waivers for WUSC-sponsored refugee students at the regular tuition rate, of which one waiver will be directed to support a student at the graduate level of study. The University has put into place five first-year waivers to assist with costs for University residence fees and meal plans.<\/span><\/p>\n 快播视频 has committed to expanding these programs by raising additional funds for the bursaries, so that refugee students, whether they are sponsored by WUSC or not, can receive more financial assistance. (Funds can be directed to the CRS Bursary for refugees through a new\u00a0online giving portal<\/span><\/a>.)<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cReem has a very good insight as to what the gaps were, and how to ramp up for sponsoring five students next year,\u201d said Dippo.<\/p>\n Alhaj said she is working toward a shift in understanding among York\u2019s WUSC committee members, with an emphasis on communication.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I came from the airport, there were so many people to greet me,\u201d she said, \u201cbut the next day, there was no one.\u201d<\/p>\n She attributes this oversight to a breakdown in communication, and says she is working with WUSC to develop protocols and guidelines so volunteers are always available to refugee students.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I ask myself why I am doing it, I know it\u2019s for the students like me who are looking for an opportunity to come here and study,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Most WUSC volunteers, however, are not refugee students. They are students like Heather Dirckze, a fourth-year international development student who wanted the opportunity to \u201cmake a big impact on people\u2019s lives\u201d.<\/p>\n 快播视频 WUSC members Heather Dirckze and Jimosi Carlos (image: Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n Dirckze, WUSC co-chair, joined the committee in her first year of studies at 快播视频. Some of her responsibilities include selecting which students to sponsor, advising the sponsored student, organizing social events and \u201cjust being a friend\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve gotten a lot of practical experience, but with WUSC and the sponsorships, I feel like I see in front of me the changes that we are making,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very unique way to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n As chair, she busy preparing for the additional students that will arrive this fall, and her hope is to grow the committee to 20 dedicated members. Current membership sits at between 12 and 15 regular members.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are doing things to increase our capacity to assist five people,\u201d she said. Her plan is to create specific roles and assign two people to each of those roles.<\/p>\n Dirckze also commends 快播视频 for its recent commitment to increase support.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing from one to five students, I think that says a lot. I think it says in a time of crisis, York has stepped up and given as much as they can,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In order to attract more volunteers, WUSC will host a seminar in partnership with 快播视频\u2019s Centre for Refugee Studies \u201cWUSC: Working within refugee studies, advocacy and support\u201d on March 2 from 12:30 to 2pm in 280N York Lanes.<\/p>\n Speakers include Dirckze and past-chair Heather Donald, WUSC student Adol Mawien and Glendon WUSC representative Emily Leahy. The event will be chaired by Dippo.<\/p>\n Alhaj says her vision for WUSC includes collaboration between Faculties and WUSC, including academic and experiential opportunities for students in international development and other related programs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good way to make sure there will always be people there, ready to help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n For more information, visit the World University Service of Canada website<\/a>,\u00a0the Keele campus\u00a0WUSC Committee Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0the Glendon College\u00a0WUSC Committee Facebook page<\/a>;\u00a0or email wusc.york@gmail.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0wuscglendon@hotmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n By Ashley Goodfellow Craig, <\/em>YFile deputy editor<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Students at 快播视频 are making positive contributions to the global refugee crisis through the on-campus chapter of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). WUSC supports and sponsors student refugees, and this fall will assist five new students with their resettlement in Canada and at 快播视频.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":227350,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[9,57],"yfileauthor":[],"qualifier":[],"yfile-author":[],"tags-to-show":[175,178],"workflow":[],"class_list":["post-227344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-picks","tag-international","tag-refugee","tags-to-show-international","tags-to-show-refugee"],"acf":{"internal_publish_date":null,"original_image":null},"yoast_head":"\n![\"快播视频](\"https:\/\/yfile.news.yorku.ca\/files\/2016\/02\/WUSC-heather-FB.jpg\")
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