UFV International has proposed a pilot initiative to assist students fleeing humanitarian crises around the world. The International Emergency Fund, (IEF), is designed to help refugees learn in a safe environment where they can focus on their education, instead of trying to survive in their war-torn countries. The IEF will provide two select students with the opportunity to study at UFV by covering the cost of their tuition and housing as well as their relocation to the Fraser Valley for two years. This funding will foster further inclusion, compassion, and understanding to the struggles of those fleeing from humanitarian crises in their home countries.
UFV International associate vice president, David McGuire, said that the IEF has been proposed for a two year trial run which, if successful, could turn into a continued scholarship. UFV’s IEF was inspired by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, which seeks to support refugees in continuing their education. WUSC is a student-led committee that sponsors two refugee students a year during their first year in Canada, providing them with financial support and assistance in getting integrated into the community. This program is funded mostly in part by the $2 levy every student pays in their student fees each semester.
According to a UFV International representative, any humanitarian crisis refugee could be eligible for the IEF, with funding determined on a case-by-case basis. The goal of this funding, which will be the first UFV International scholarship focused solely on humanitarian aid, is to “help those whose health and safety are being jeopardized in areas of conflict and catastrophe.”
Currently the IEF is in its pilot stages, with more information to come in the next few months. UFV International has partnered with many programs and departments across campus, including the Office of the Registrar, the University Advancement team, and Student Services to bring the IEF to life. Their focus right now is determining the criteria of eligibility for refugees and developing the policies that accompany a scholarship. So far, UFV International has worked to access the necessary funding for the program, which they hope will support two students for two years. Next, they are looking to connect with students who need this sort of support. This will happen through international consulates, who will be contacted in the next few weeks by the university.
Allison is starting her BA in English with a minor in Criminology to become a publishing contract lawyer. In her spare time, she watches way too many true crime shows and reads a lot of Y.A. fiction, while slugging along on various articles.
