When Rachel Samuel immigrated to Canada from Malawi, she says her perspective on the world opened up and sparked an interest in international development.
“When I was in Malawi, my exposure was limited, and my thoughts were always in the direction of supporting humanity at the local level. Coming to Canada, specifically to Toronto – such a multicultural city – redirected my thoughts towards thinking of humanity from a global perspective. I’ve made friends from different parts of the world who live in Canada, and this usually makes me feel connected to the countries they originate from.”
"Coming to Canada, specifically to Toronto – such a multicultural city – redirected my thoughts towards thinking of humanity from a global perspective," says Samuel.
Samuel, a fourth-year student with a double major in Human Biology and Anthropology, came to U of T as part of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, which combines resettlement with opportunities for higher education. As a University of Toronto Scarborough Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship recipient, she worked with Children of Hope Uganda in Lira, Uganda, an organization that supports war-affected youth.
Samuel monitored and evaluated the organization’s income-generating activities, which help to keep the organization self-sustainable. Apart from contributing to this meaningful work, she says coping with life in a new country – confronting language barriers and getting around on motorbikes – brought a sense of pride and accomplishment. “The greatest reward was personal growth through the daily challenges I met, which at times required me to make quick, mature and workable decisions. The experience helped me worry less about place in terms of choosing a career. I realized that once you get the hang of things, familiarize yourself with the local citizens and understand your surroundings, you pretty much can live or work anywhere human beings can survive.”
Witnessing the resilience of the young people who receive help from Children of Hope Uganda also helped Samuel develop a new outlook on her own worries. She recalls the story of one boy in particular, whom she helped secure a scholarship when he faced severe financial and family problem – including the suicide of his father. “Seeing how people like him react, despite carrying stresses that are heavier than what I usually stress about, taught me a big lesson, and actually lightened my life.”
The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) and Canadian universities. This program is made possible with financial support from the Government of Canada, provincial governments and the private sector.