By Diane Luckow

Joselyne John has been ushering convocation guests to their seats for the past three years, enjoying the excitement of families celebrating.

This month, it’s her turn to cross the convocation dais to accept her health sciences degree. But the moment will be bittersweet without her family in the audience.

After fleeing the Burundi civil war in 1994, they’re still in the Malawi refugee camp that John left six years ago to come to SFU on a World University Service of Canada scholarship.

Adjusting to life on campus wasn’t easy but, says John, “I was amazed by how helpful people were—students helping me integrate, treating me like a sister. I was really inspired to give back.”

To say that John embraced her SFU experience is an understatement.

She volunteered at myriad campus events, served as an orientation leader for new students, and helped still more through SFU’s Student Success program for students experiencing academic difficulties.

She ran the SFU Food Bank for a year, a project close to her heart and an opportunity, she says, to raise awareness about food justice and student poverty.

She found her first job, with the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group on campus, and also worked as a student fundraiser for the annual SFU alumni appeal.

And amidst it all, she established the Dzaleka Project (www.dzaleka.org), a non-profit organization that has raised an initial $20,000 to bring her family to Canada. There are still immigration hurdles to overcome, however, including raising funds for her family’s basic transitional needs.

John is now studying for a nursing degree at Langara College, a decision that came out of a one-year volunteer stint at Burnaby General Hospital.  

“After seeing the wonderful opportunity to make a direct difference to patients, I knew right away that this is what I want to do.”

In February this year, John became a Canadian citizen.

“When you’re a refugee, you have no identity. To know that I belong here now—I don’t even have the words for it,” says John.

“Canada has been wonderful, especially the people. That’s what makes Canada beautiful.”