The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a non-governmental organization committed to fostering human development through education. This NGO has active programs in South America, Africa, and Asia, focusing on poverty alleviation, delivering clean water and sanitation, strengthening civil society, and promoting education.
WUSC’s domestic services, like the Student Refugee Program (SRP), are implemented through an extensive network of over seventy post-secondary establishments, and the program has been in place at the Trent campus for over 10 years. The SRP student who comes to Trent is sponsored by the university and their first-year expenses are paid for by students fees in the form of a levy.
Currently, we sponsor one SRP student but as of next fall, we will be sponsoring two students.
The SRP student(s) live in the Trent Global Living Community in Champlain College. When I was the Student Don of TGLC in 2008-2009, the SRP student was actively involved in anchoring meaningful programming for the community. Having the refugee student in TGLC is a perfect fit because the community is open and respectful committed to global citizenship, diversity and programming that among other things, fosters student refugee support and awareness on campus and in the community.
This past academic year, the Trent WUSC local committee requested a levy increase of $2.00 to meet our dream of sponsoring a total of two SRP students. In January 2010, we were successful in getting our name "WUSC" in the ballot allowing students to vote for us for a levy increase in the March referendum.
In a nail-biting, trepidation-filled and very exciting three-day referendum, we were successful in getting our request of a $2.00 increase in the levy.
With the levy increase, we unanimously decided to sponsor a second student. Way to go, Trent! And way to go TGLC and Champlain, the home of the SRP students that provide support, encouragement and resources.
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