Written by: Thea Alfonso | Well-being Assistant
Journey of a Refugee Student: Stories of Resilience
The path of a refugee student is marked by challenges, bravery, and resiliency. From the trauma of displacement to the adjustment of arriving in a foreign country. Every step a refugee student takes is a testament to their resiliency.
This month is SRP (Student Refugee Program) Awareness Month. This article invites us to catch a glimpse of the journey of these incredible humans. We will explore the stages of their journey, using insights and resources from WUSC (World University Service of Canada) and from one of our own MacEwan’s SRP student to highlight their experiences and the vital role of the Student Refugee Program (SRP).
Pre-Arrival: Challenges
For many students, their journey begins here. Forced to leave their homes, communities, and even their dreams behind. They face unimaginable hardships in search of safety.
During this, the students often experience uncertainty in their camps/temporary shelters. They are living in precarious conditions while simultaneously grappling with the trauma of losing loved ones, losing one’s own sense of security, and losing a home.
One story was Amelie’s (Herstory) . Born in Rwanda and at six years of age, her and her family moved to Malawi as refugees in 2001. Amelie’s end goal during that time was to focus on her studies with the goal of qualifying to the WUSC’s SRP.
Her journey to pursue her goal didn’t come easy. During her time at Malawi, Amelie experienced bullying because she was seen as an outsider and a hardworking student. Furthermore, it was a financial worry for Amelie to go to school in Malawi. “But at the back of my mind, I was always thinking, how am I going to afford it? In Malawi, the tuition is partly subsidized by the government but for the most part, it has to come from your own pocket.” said Amelie.
Amelie would later on be selected for SRP with full financial support. “This is a privilege to say the least. For most of my peers and myself included, it is the first time we have belonged to a country.”
From Amelie’s words “It is easy to feel defeated by your circumstances and give up, but this program gives so much hope to people in a similar situation as mine. Had I not had a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, I can only imagine where I would be right now.”
Arrival: Bravery in Adjusting to a New Country
The challenges of arriving in a new country extend far beyond learning a new language. Refugee students must quickly adapt to Canada’s cultural, social, and economic structures. Many of the hurdles the students face are things others take for granted.
From experiencing Canada’s weather to navigating unfamiliar ingredients. There is also exploring a new and different transit system. Not to mention different social norms such as tone, language and etiquette which can feel like walking on eggshells all the time. Finally, the financial adjustment doesn’t go away, this could look like determining what is expensive, if you come from a country where bargaining is normal adjusting to that can be difficult, and the worry to support family back home.
Beyond these day-to-day adjustments, accessing post-secondary education brings its own set of challenges. From figuring out academic requirements to juggling financial constraints and part-time work, the pressure can be intense.
One of our very own SRP student Daniel has shared his own struggles adjusting here. He arrived here in Canada 2023 and shared his experience “It wasn’t an easy process. It can feel very lonely. You lose your community” Daniel said. He was vulnerable in sharing his journey with depression “I didn’t have anyone to confide in. It was a hard time in my life.”
“The only family I had was SAMU (Student’s Association of MacEwan University). I talked a lot with Macey and Karan. Those are the people that have helped me, they tried to integrate me in the community. That’s really helped me go through the hard time in my life.”
Adapting and Thriving: Resiliency
Despite the odds, refugee students adapt and often thrive, building new lives filled with hope and opportunity. This stage of the journey is about celebrating their resilience and the support systems that help them succeed.
This serves as a reminder that while the journey of a refugee student begins with hardship, it can lead to incredible growth and success when given the right support.
Lam, a student of MacEwan and a refugee shares “Some parts of our history that are letting us down all the time, they are important. They have become part of our history. Our past is our identity.”
Why It Matters
The Journey of a Refugee Student isn’t just about awareness, it’s about fostering empathy and inspiring action. By sharing these stories and challenges, we aim to highlight the role that programs like WUSC’s SRP play in empowering refugee students.
You as students play a vital role in making this program exist. As MacEwan students, part of your tuition and to be exact $2.50 goes towards funding an SRP student every two years. YOU are part of creating this wonderful program that helps bring an opportunity of safety and security.
Let this initiative serve as a call to reflect on our shared responsibility to support those who have endured so much. With even the smallest action, we can help refugee students not only survive but thrive.
If you want to learn more about SRP and the services of WUSC as a whole visit wusc.ca.
