The partnership was made public at an October 5 event organized by Concordia’s Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS).
The two students are expected to arrive at Concordia in six to 12 months from Al Salam School in Reyhanli, Turkey. The school, which was opened by the Syrian Kids Foundation in October 2012, is located about a mile from Turkey’s busiest border crossing with Syria. It teaches 2,000 students aged six to 17.
Monday’s event — a panel discussion entitled The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Seeking Protection in Dangerous Times — was the latest in a series of MIGS initiatives to broaden awareness and deepen understanding of the issues surrounding human rights crises such as the one gripping Syria.
The institute continues to distinguish itself on the world stage as Canada’s leading research and advocacy organization focused on the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.
“We have had success working with individuals to bring deserving and talented young Syrian refugees to Canada so that they can realize their educational goals,” says Faisal Alazem, executive director of the Syrian Kids Foundation.
“Now, we’re glad to propel one of our flagship projects [the Al-Salam School] further by partnering with an institution like Concordia, which has a long-standing history of being an active community player.”
Alazem participated in the MIGS event as spokesperson for the Syrian Canadian Council. The panel also included a refugee from Syria, the former head of the office of the UN League of Arab States Joint Special Representative for Syria in Damascus and a representative from Amnesty International Canada.
Learn more about Concordia’s Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS).