UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships recipients announced
UFCW Canada gives hope for a better future
“Education Has No Borders” is the spirit of commitment which led to the creation of the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships. In a span of two years, over 9,000 scholarship applications from around the globe have been received.
“It has certainly been a privilege to be able to share in our recipients’ education," says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. "With a commitment to justice, we continue to ensure that more workers entering Canada under the draconian Temporary Foreign Workers Program are empowered to improve the lives of their families back home through the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarship.”
Any migrant or temporary foreign worker in Canada can nominate a family member in their home country for the scholarship. The nominee must be between 4 and 25 years of age; attending or planning to attend an educational institution; and is either the child, grandchild, sister, brother, niece or nephew of the nominator.
The 20 recipients of the 2011 UFCW Canada Migrant Worker Scholarship are a diverse group of young people from the Global South, ranging in age from 6 to 24 — attending school in Guatemala, the Philippines, Jamaica, Honduras, and Mexico.
The recipients of the 2011 UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships are:
- Amber Johanna Rupinan, age 7 (Philippines)
- Chris Lorenz Villanueva, age 9 (Philippines)
- Joyce Anne M. Custodio, age 10 (Philippines)
- Hennique Henry, age 16 (Jamaica)
- Katherine Pamela Vallecillo Duron, age 7 (Honduras)
- Osbaldo Gonzalez Frias, age 12 (Mexico)
- Mariana Galindo Zamora, age 15 (Mexico)
- Tomeaca Bell, age 19 (Jamaica)
- Allan Giovanni Prieto Catana, age 24 (Mexico)
- Denisse Isamar Canett Garcia, age 16 (Mexico)
- Kashna Tucker, age 8 (Jamaica)
- Marvin Amilcar Ajqui Ajqui, age 17 (Guatemala)
- Hanna B. Calvarido, age 6 (Philippines)
- Tamika Gayle, age 12 (Jamaica)
- Malinali Rosaura Padilla Cuaxilotl, age 13 (Mexico)
- Cecilia Hernandez Celis, age 13 (Mexico)
- Ricardo Mora Morales, age 12 (Mexico
- Itzel Gomez Moreno, age 15 (Mexico)
- Karla Lechuga Velazquez, age 14 (Mexico)
- David Flores Porfirio, age 18 (Mexico)
The recipients of the 2011 scholarship were all nominated by family members employed across Canada as migrant or temporary foreign workers in a variety of sectors including agriculture, natural resources, hospitality, service, restaurants, retail, meat processing, healthcare, and care giving.
The UFCW Canada Migrant Worker Scholarship program for 2012 offers 20 scholarships of $500.00 each. Applications can be made and submitted online in six languages. Applications can also be downloaded for printing and distribution.
The deadline to apply is December 31, 2012. For more information please see http://www.ufcw.ca/migrantscholarships.
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“I’d like to thank you for selecting me as a winner of the scholarship as I don’t rely on the resources my parents can provide as a means to continue my studies. I am the youngest of my siblings and would love the opportunity to finish my studies and work as a professional.” – Cecilia Hernandez Celis, scholarship recipient, age 13 |
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“I came to Canada in June 2008. With the help of the Union and Company I was able to work at Maple Leaf Foods and then bring my family to live with me two years later. My wife saw a poster for the scholarships at our Union’s training centre and motivated me to complete an application. I am so glad I did this. Thank you UFCW Canada.” – Walter Sanchez, UFCW Canada Local 832 member, uncle of Katherine Vallecillo Duron, age 7 |
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“I’m working as a live-in caregiver in Canada. I am the breadwinner of my family and a single mom for my two kids in the Philippines. My daughter, Amber Johanna was born in 2004. She loves to play sports, read books and play the violin. Winning the scholarship is a big blessing for us." – Aniceta Rupinan, mother of Amber Johanna Rupinan, age 7 |
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“Dear Mr. Hanley: It is our pleasure that our daughter Hanna was chosen to be part of this prestigious scholarship for migrant workers. We are positive that our daughter will be able to maintain her outstanding marks. With this opportunity we will be able to provide her with more learning materials to enhance her skills and abilities and engage in her chosen sport.” – Allan & Reina Calvarido , parents of Hanna Calvarido, age 6 |
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“I have four children, twins who are 21 years old, a 19-year-old and a 6-year-old. I’ve been leaving them to work for the same farmer in Canada for the past 25 years of my life.” – Howard Leford Bell, father of Tomeaca Bell, age 19 |
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“We are very much appreciative of this opportunity. It is a big help for us to provide our daughter’s expenses in school such as school supplies, school uniform and allowance for food for this school year.” – Mrs. Rosabel Manrique-Custodio, mother of Joyce Anne M. Custodio, age 10 |
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“I am grateful to UFCW Canada. In June I will finish my second year of high school. Right now I can’t count on the necessary resources to cover my studies in Mexico. My dad migrates to Canada but for the short time he is given work, it’s not enough to cover my studies.” – Itzel Gomez Moreno, scholarship recipient, age 15 |
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“I have an elementary school education and came from a family of 16 kids. I have three kids who deserve access to good schooling.” - Joaquin Galindo Olvera, uncle of Mariana Galindo Zamora, age 15 |
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“I am studying at the Technical Institute of Agriculture. I hope to be somebody in life. I thank you for your support in my studies and my career.” - David Flores Porfirio, scholarship recipient, age 18 |
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“My father is one of many who travel to Canada yearly to see a better future for his family. Therefore, I feel honored to be selected for this scholarship, especially at a time when our economic crisis is great.” – Allan Giovanni Prieto Catana, scholarship recipient, age 24 |
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“I started coming to Canada in 2005. I thank UFCW Canada for helping my daughter fulfill her academic dream of becoming a professional in Mexico.” – Carlos Javier Canett Gonzales, father of Denisse Isamar Canett Garcia, age 16 |
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“I’m 37 years old now. A few months after I initially arrived in Canada in 2009, I thought I would die working so hard here in fast food restaurants and without my husband and children. I have become empowered on my rights as a worker by surfing the internet when I can. This is how I came across the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarship. Thank you UFCW Canada for helping in my kids’ education.” – Marlene Gordon, mother of Kashna Tucker, age 8 |
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“I would like to study medicine. I have family members who have cancer now and this is a sickness I would like to cure! My parents make every effort so that I may pursue my studies but it’s really expensive.” – Osbaldo Gonzalez Frias, scholarship recipient, age 12 |