BC has become Hanna Ushkanova’s home, 18.
He fled the war in Ukraine three years ago and lived in a refugee camp in Greece when he was connected with a Chilliwack family, which took it as their own.
“They gave me a place and gave me a lot of love and support,” said Ushaknova.
His dream is to build a life in BC, following a career in medical research. But before the high international registration rates, he is struggling to attend the University of British Columbia this fall.
Ushkanova has been accepted to study science at the university. She says she wants to work in the field of medicine, specifically investigating cell phone to help find priests for diseases.
Gord Robertson and Julie Veer, whom Ushkanova refers as his mother and Canadian dad, say they would like to continue financially supporting Ushkanova, but cannot pay the high international enrollment rates, ranging from around $ 40,000 to $ 60,000 a year Depending on the program.
Ushkanova’s parents in Ukraine cannot help with registration. She says they are fighting to get to the end of the month in the middle of the war.
A young Ukrainian refugee has built a life in BC after fleeing from the war. He hopes to follow a career in medical research, but the steep international registration rates can prevent him from attending the university. As Michelle Gómez de CBC reports, the foreign student expects officials to make an exception for those in position.
According to the UBC policy, the University offers national registration fees for people with refugee status. However, those who fled the war in Ukraine are not considered refugees by the Canadian government.
In 2022, the province temporarily demanded that universities offer national registration fees to Ukrainian students entering under the authorization of Canada-Ukraine for the emergency travel visa (CUET).
But the British Columbia University has finished this policy, noting that its last admission offered by national rates to Caseet visas headlines was in September 2023.
“The war still goes … we are still in the same situation,” said Ushkanova, “I don’t think it’s just for Ukrainians.”
The family says that they have communicated with UBC and the province, but that it has not yet had news.
UBC said in a statement to CBC that he is aware that the federal government recently extended the deadline for Ukrainian refugees to request a new study permit and review possible implications in the coming days.
“We can certainly understand the end of the Coeet program is worrying for future Ukrainian students,” said an UBC statement.
“We strongly encourage future potential students affected to investigate and request scholarships that can help them.”
The Post Secondary Education of BC said in a statement that universities may have financial assistance options, but did not answer specific questions about the Ushkanova case.
Ushkanova says that there are other Ukrainian young people who complete high school in BC and expect the university to make an exception for those in position.
‘This place is my home’
When the war exploded for the first time in Ukraine, Robertson’s 14 -year -old daughter and Veer, Amelie, knew he wanted to do something.
“Amelie came to us and said she wanted to help,” Robertson said. “Help them settle in Canada, far from the war.”
After investigating a little, Amelie found a voluntary organization that connected it with Ushkanova, who joined the family in Canada in February 2023.
Since he arrived, Ushkanova and Amelie say they have become sisters.
And Roberson says that Ushkanova has prospered at school, winning an average qualification in the 90 highs and participating in extracurricular activities.
There are other universities in Canada that still offer domestic registration to Ukrainian refugees, such as the University of Alberta.
But for Ushkanova, moving would not mean any support system.
“I feel that this place is my home now,” he said.
Robertson said that after all that Ushkanova has gone to an early age, uproot his life would be difficult.
“If you stay in BC, we are here to support it. We will continue to be next to everything,” Robertson said.
He said that moving abroad was not an option for many Ukrainian young people like Ushkanova, but a survival movement.
“They are not like a regular international student who comes from perhaps a position of wealth, so it is impossible for them,” he said.
Ushkanova expects to continue its education beyond a university degree, eventually chasing a mastery or doctorate. She also wants to become Canadian citizen.
She says she wants to be an example for other Ukrainian young people, demonstrating that they can overcome the challenges and pursue their dreams.
But without guaranteed access to education near home in autumn, he says that this future remains uncertain.
“We are just trying to find a way to fit in this society and find a way to contribute to this country,” said Ushkanova. “We deserve help, like everyone else.”
