The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) has donated $150,000 to support international students through the creation of a new bursary.
The UWSA International Student Health Plan Bursary will assist international undergraduate students, with demonstrated financial need, in covering the costs associated with their healthcare plan at The University of Winnipeg.
UWSA President Shawna Peloquin explained that the donation to create this bursary was an important, but easy decision to make due to the barriers international students face when it comes to healthcare.
“We deeply value our international students and we are grateful to have the ability to bring support forward as they face unequal barriers to healthcare,” said Peloquin. “At the UWSA, we believe in investing in our priorities and we acknowledge our international student community as a driving presence in our growth, learning, and becoming, and we stand in solidarity with them and their community of support.”
International Students’ Co-Directors Elsa Owusu and Francisca Idigbe, being international students themselves, are excited to see the launch of this bursary as international student healthcare was a top priority for them during their term on the UWSA Board.
“In these very challenging times for so many UWinnipeg students, it is humbling to see the UWSA stepping up and making such a generous donation to support international students, who are away from their families and in many cases with very limited financial resources,” said Javier Schwersensky, UWinnipeg Foundation President and CEO. “The University of Winnipeg Foundation is honoured to be part of this effort and we hope other members of the community will be equally moved by the UWSA’s leadership and generosity, and choose to join them and contribute to this fund.”
Pending approval by the University of Winnipeg Senate, international students will be eligible to apply for the bursary starting at the end of August for the 2021-22 academic year.
