How a $5 fee transforms the lives of student refugees

Mariak Achuoth’s journey to the University of Waterloo began in a Kenyan refugee camp, far from campus. Displaced by war in South Sudan, he dedicated himself to pursuing formal education, knowing it was his best hope for a better future beyond the camp. 

 His hard work opened a life-changing opportunity—a chance to apply to Canadian universities through the World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) Student Refugee Program. 

 For Achuoth, who spent close to eight years there, the camp not only presented challenges but also limited his prospects. "I was not enjoying the refugee life," he says. 

Determined to break free from those limitations, Achuoth applied to three Canadian universities through the Student Refugee Program, putting all his hope in Waterloo. 

“There was no choice at all. I ranked Waterloo as my first, second, and third option,” he says. 

But getting into Waterloo wasn’t his only goal. “I wanted to study engineering at Waterloo,” something no other student from the Student Refugee Program had managed to achieve.  

Despite the odds, Achuoth eventually achieved what no other WUSC-sponsored student refugee had done before — he earned a place in Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering. "Every class, every lecture is a new opportunity," he says. "I’ve come so far from where I started, and I know that if I keep working hard, there’s nothing I can’t achieve."   

A lifeline of hope and opportunity 

The program is made possible thanks to Waterloo International and United College. Their longstanding partnership with WUSC, and the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), means a $5 student levy for the Student Refugee Program is included in optional student fees and plays a critical role in giving Achuoth and other talented international students the opportunity to pursue their post-secondary education. 

Time and again, students have demonstrated their commitment to supporting the program and its participants. For example, Achouth lived at Conrad Grebel University College during his first few years at Waterloo. Grebel residents contribute an additional $20 per term to help subsidize the residence costs of hosting him as a WUSC student at UWaterloo. When the program first started at UWaterloo in 2007, Grebel students paid a $10 per term fee. However, after meeting the SRP students and learning from their experiences, they voted to double the fee, reflecting their dedication to the program's success.

By harnessing the collective generosity of Waterloo students, WUSA, the affiliated colleges and Waterloo International, they transform those modest fees into life-changing experiences for high achieving students with unlimited potential.  

"This program isn’t just about getting an education," Achuoth says. "It's about having a future. When you’ve spent years in a refugee camp, opportunities like this feel like a dream come true," Achuoth.  

Getting a degree and building a life   

Each year, Waterloo admits five or six students to the refugee program. The levy covers tuition for six academic terms, housing and other essentials. They also benefit from the BASE program for language support. 

Gloire Gatabazi arrived in Waterloo Region under similar, but also different circumstances. In the 1990s, when he was just a child, Gatabazi’s family escaped one of the deadliest tragedies in modern memory. 

“My whole family left Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide, and we fled to Congo for two years. After that, we moved to Kenya,” he says. For him, the program isn’t just about financial support. It's about creating the opportunity for us to contribute to society and to have a future. 

"Arriving here was like stepping into a new world," Gatabazi remembers upon arriving here in 2013. "The adjustment was challenging, but the support from the university and the community made it possible." 

The program offers more than just financial aid — it provides comprehensive support to help students thrive. "This money actually goes somewhere. Real people are on the other end of it, you know — they’re doing well," Gatabazi says. 

Bessma Momani, associate vice-president, International, is a strong champion of the Student Refugee Program. 

 “Waterloo’s dedication to making a global impact is central to its identity and future vision,” Momani says. “By supporting WUSC and its Student Refugee Program, and students’ support of this fee through WUSA, Waterloo students aren’t just investing in the futures of these talented international students — they are investing in trying to create a better world.” 

The program is one facet of a strategic approach to internationalization at Waterloo.   

 “The exchange of ideas with students denied opportunities by circumstances of war broadens everyone’s perspectives on the world and prepares them for better intercultural understanding in an interconnected world,” she says. 

Gatabazi agrees. After leaving the program he graduated with a degree from the School of Environmental, Resource and Sustainability. He recently got married and has a successful career in his community as a French teacher. 

While the program opens doors, refugee students still face immense challenges. Adjusting to a new culture, managing academic pressures and living far from home can all feel daunting. 

"This opportunity to study in Canada has been life-changing," Gatabazi says. “Education is my key to changing the world," he explains. "It’s not just about getting a degree; it’s about using what I learn to help others who’ve been through what I have." 

As for Achuoth, he’s nearly done his degree in engineering, and has his eyes squarely set on a future where he, too, can give back. 

He’s working on a startup called NilePay, which aims to make it easier for people in East Africa to send and receive money. 

"People need to know that this program changes lives," he says. "It’s not just an abstract idea — it’s real. It’s helping us build a future we never thought possible. Being here isn’t just about surviving — it’s about thriving.” 

To find out more about how your student fees transform lives, please visit the Student Refugee Program page on United College’s website.