Trent WUSC - Student Refugee Program
Learn more about how Trent University students sponsor newcomers to Canada.
About WUSC
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian international development non-profit organization dedicated to improving education, employment and empowerment opportunities for youth, women and refugees in more than 25 countries around the world. Our vision is a better world for all young people. It is a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Our Mission: We work with a diverse network of students, volunteers, institutions, governments, and businesses to improve education, economic, and empowerment opportunities for young people.
Student Refugee Program (SRP)
The Student Refugee Program (SRP) is the only one of its kind to combine resettlement with opportunities for higher education. Launched in 1978 with the placement of one student at Carleton University, the program has since grown to support over 130 students per year through active partnerships with over 80 campuses.
As an official Sponsorship Agreement Holder in Canada, WUSC has a longstanding agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This agreement enables us to bring refugee students to study in Canada as permanent residents. WUSC identifies refugee students who are in need of resettlement and grants permission to WUSC Local Committees at universities, colleges and cegeps across Canada to sponsor in WUSC’s name.
Crucial to the program’s success is its unique youth-to-youth sponsorship model which empowers young Canadian students to play an active role in the sponsorship of refugee students. Our Local Committees raise funds and awareness for the program on their campus and in their community. They also play a critical role in offering day-to-day social and academic support to SRP students.
Benefits of the SRP for student refugees
- Permanent resident status in a prosperous, stable country
- Tuition and living expenses for their first year in Canada
- Peer support surrounding the resettlement process and access to resources
- Increased freedom, security and access to education and social services
- Opportunities to raise Canadians' awareness of refugee issues
Benefits of the SRP for Canadian students
- Increased understanding of refugee, development and peace and conflict issues
- Opportunities for advocacy and enhanced civic participation
- Hands-on experience in fundraising, organizing, budgeting, cross-cultural communications
Benefits of the SRP for Canadian universities and colleges
- Demonstrate social responsibility and commitment to humanitarianism
- Support internationalization goals and increased diversity on campus
- Raise institutional profile
SRP at Trent University
Mission and Vision
WUSC's mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. To WUSC, education is the one universal path leading to a better and more equitable world, the path that both reveals our responsibility to contribute to the common good, making it possible for the organization to do so. The SRP program centers WUSC's mission, where the organization supports the transition of a refugee student throughout their first year at Trent University and help gain their independence.
Our vision is to see refugee students at Trent be empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities. We also strive for a Trent community that supports and welcomes refugees.
Current Trent Supporters of WUSC
Each year Trent supports two newcomers to Canada. For each student the following department contributes:
- Trent Financial Aid - donates two full-time terms of tuition (8 mos)
- Trent Housing team - provides residence in the Champlain Annex (8 mos)
- Food Services - donates a meal plan for the FW academic term (8 mos)
- Trent Students through ancillary fee - with a donation of just 3/term Trent students support the WUSC local committee to support the upper year students in the program.
- Trent International
- Champlain College
- Trent's WUSC Local committee
How can you help?
Volunteer for the WUSC Local Committee
Send us an email with any questions you may have wuscattrent@gmail.com. These are the following positions available:
- Co-Chair
- Internal Communications Director
- Fundraising and Outreach Director
- External Communications Director
- Resettlement Directors
- Financial Director
- Social and Events Directors
- Training and Recruitment Directors