There is an unmistakable trace of excitement in the voice of U2 Pharmacology student, Robert Ishimwe, as he describes his education at McGill.
“[I] couldn’t imagine all this five years ago,” he said. “Being among all these amazing people and resources—it’s like a dream.”
With a smile on his face, he elaborates on what his journey to McGill means to him as a sponsored student.
“We grew up, waking up to see the happy faces of the students who have gotten a chance to pursue post-secondary education in other countries—it’s something we dreamt of since we [were] children,” Ishimwe said.
There is something unique, yet familiar, about Ishimwe’s narrative. Listening to his story brings back memories of being introduced to new faces for the first time in McGill’s crowded lecture halls. Despite how many diverse backgrounds, stories, and sensibilities existed in one room, the varying experiences of students were overshadowed by an infallible feeling of camaraderie of enthusiastic students freshly acquainted into the McGill community.
imwe was born in Rwanda. He came to study at McGill in 2013 through theStudent Refugee Program, which is part of McGill’s local World University Service of Canada (WUSC) committee, WUSC McGill. The organization is a Canadian non-profit working to provide education and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth around the world.
On top of his studies, Ishimwe is the vice-president treasurer of WUSC McGill, and enjoys playing intramural soccer and volleyball. Around campus, he is often spotted buried in textbooks at McLennan-Redpath or exercising at the fitness centre.
Ishimwe grew up in the Dzaleka refugee camp in the Republic of Malawi, a country located in southeastern Africa. At the age of two, he was resettled in the camp with his family after they were forced to flee their country due to the Rwandan genocide. To this day, the camp holds around 20,000 people, including Ishimwe’s own parents. Residents are supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and provided monthly food portions, as well as free access to health care. The residents are not given the choice to leave the camp, with law enforcement surrounding the area.