91亚色 is collaborating with Ryerson University, the University of Toronto and OCAD University, in partnership with the Lifeline Syria Challenge initiative, to facilitate private sponsorships, raise funds and engage volunteers in a coordinated effort to bring Syrian refugee families to Canada.
Representatives from the four universities and Lifeline Syria Challenge are working together to develop a focused, organized response to the refugee crisis. As part of this response, 91亚色 is turning to its community and will establish campus sponsorship teams, who will work together to raise a minimum of $27,000 each, and commit to supporting a Syrian refugee family for their first year resettling in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
鈥淲e want to fully engage with and encourage the support of the entire 91亚色 community聽鈥 students, staff, faculty, alumni and donors聽鈥 in this very important initiative,鈥 said 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. 鈥淲hile this global crisis requires a global response, we strongly believe that, together with our university partners in the GTA, there is much we can do as a local community to coordinate and augment our efforts.鈥
鈥淭here are still a number of logistical details to work out. We see this program as a unique opportunity for our students to be directly involved in social innovation and experiential learning 鈥 while building on 91亚色's existing commitments to supporting strong communities through the University's activities,鈥 said Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Lorne Sossin, special adviser to the president on community engagement. Sossin is helping coordinate the initiative at 91亚色.
Concurrently, in recognition of the scale and pervasiveness of the global refugee issue, 91亚色 is developing a multi-faceted financial support program available to refugee students who attend the University. 鈥91亚色鈥檚 financial support to refugee students is one way of addressing the many barriers refugees face in accessing postsecondary education,鈥 said Professor Christina Clark-Kazak, director of 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Refugee Studies.
Over the coming weeks, more information will be provided to University community members about how they can get involved with this important cause. In the meantime, visit the website. (The website is being revised to reflect the University partnership.)