Saturday, August 18, 2007

World Refugee Day in Vancouver

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

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

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

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