About Student Refugee Sponsorship

For 30 years, WUSC’s Student Refugee Program has engaged student volunteer groups on campuses across Canada to help over 1,000 refugees access post-secondary education and have an opportunity to resettle permanently in Canada. Every year, Canadian students, universities and colleges provide vital social and financial support to the sponsored students during their first 12 months in Canada.

Despite attempts to provide equal opportunities to men and women, less than one third of the program beneficiaries are girls. This disparity has led WUSC to take a proactive approach in the refugee camps to help reduce the gender inequities in the camps. Girls must overcome attitudinal and cultural barriers to access and complete their primary and secondary education and develop their self confidence to pursue higher studies.

WUSC wants to increase the availability of quality primary, secondary and post-secondary education in refugee camps and to close the gender gap in education between refugee boys and girls. The Shine a Light campaign is a great way to help us address this gender imbalance.

You can also donate directly to the WUSC Student Refugee Program by clicking here.