The Refugee Sponsorship Fund, established by the Faculty of Social Science, in partnership with the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, has surpassed its original goal of $30,000 and raised more than $44,000 to provide for a G5 Private Sponsorship Application for a Syrian refugee family of five.
The funds raised came from various efforts across campus from Hospitality Services putting out jars at cash registers to Campus Police donating funds from their lost and found auction.
Western professor Victoria Esses led the charge.
“People have been extraordinarily generous,” said the Director of Western’s Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations. “The offers of housing, legal counsel and student volunteers have been endless.”
After having success with the fundraising campaign, Esses stresses the importance of learning more about the stories of established and new immigrants in our community.
“It’s important to see what these families give back to the community” Esses said.
She hopes to do that with an upcoming event, Journeys of Migration, where both established and newly arrived immigrants in London will share their stories. The event takes place 4-6 p.m. today in the University Students Council (USC) Council Chambers, room 315.
Fund raising efforts are continuing and additional money raised will go towards sponsoring more families.