The Syrian conflict has created 5.2 million refugees worldwide, half a million of which are between the ages of 18 and 22; students like us. These displaced students had hopes and dreams to pursue an education that would better their lives and the lives of those around them. Many aspired to become doctors, engineers, artists… but with the ever increasing threat to their livelihood due to frequent attacks on university campuses and their hometowns, many have had no choice but to drop out and flee, leaving their untapped potential to slowly stagnate.
Syrians thus face an academic crisis due to a breakdown of higher education within their country.
As McGill students, we, before anyone, understand the privledge it is to pursue our education. We understand how it can shape our future and grant us opportunity, enlightening and challenging us.
Over the past few years, the term “lost generation” has become synonymous with Syria’s youth.
We want to put an end to this.
The maintenance of a population of educated students and the prevention of a “lost generation” is necessary for the post-conflict development of Syria, and the Institute of International Education (IIE) is addressing this emergency through the creation of the Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, which includes universities and colleges worldwide who offer scholarships to assist Syrian students—notably including Brown, Columbia, John Hopkins, and Dartmouth.
We believe it is time to move beyond talking about the need to create change, and actually make the change happen. We want McGill to be the first Canadian university to join the IIE’s Syria Consortium, and create a scholarship for a displaced Syrian student—hopefully inspiring other campuses across Canada to do the same.
But to do so we need your support. So, come vote YES and support us at the Fall semester GA, and help kickstart a movement.
The General Assembly will happen at the SSMU Building this Monday the 23rd of October, at 5:30pm. Your presence is crucial in making this happen, so grab your friends, bring your supper and your McGill ID (otherwise you won’t get into the building), and come to take part in a campaign that will not only directly change someone’s life, but aid a country’s future.
Event page: http://bit.ly/2z0Hph5
For further reading:
https://www.iie.org/
https://www.iie.org/
http://data.unhcr.org/
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