A new beginning: How one refugee turned struggle into strength
June 19, 2025
Each year on June 20, World Refugee Day gives us a chance to pause and reflect. It’s a time to honour the strength, resilience and determination of millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and a new beginning.
At Georgian College, it’s also a moment to shine a light on students like Badr Ahmed Ahmed Saleh AlSewari, “who join the Georgian community via the Student Refugee Program in partnership with World University Service of Canada (WUSC). His story is one of perseverance, courage and finding hope again, even in the face of unimaginable obstacles.
We sat down with Badr to speak about his journey and how he’s finding his stride at Georgian.
What inspired your decision to come to Georgian College?
“Since I left my city to work and save some money, I had just one dream: to continue my education. But my dream got destroyed when I became a refugee. For three years, I tried to find any opportunity to continue my education, but I was rejected every time. I lost hope.”
In his fourth year living as a refugee in Lebanon, Badr applied to the Student Refugee Program (SRP) through the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). It felt like his last shot.
Eight months later, Badr got the news that changed everything. He was accepted, and 10 months after that, he found out he would be coming to Georgian College. “It was my happiest day because I knew I could continue my education and have a better life. But I realized I had to leave home again, and that’s why it was also my saddest.” Two months after receiving the news, Badr left Lebanon. When he arrived in Canada, Georgian staff and members of the WUSC Local Committee were there waiting for him at the airport. That first welcome made all the difference.
“When I run, I feel free. I feel like I’m moving toward something.”
How did your path to postsecondary education begin, and what challenges did you face?
“I didn’t find a lot of challenges in or outside the college because there were people waiting for me.”
Still, it had been five years since he was a student. Getting back into the classroom came with its own challenges. Badr began in Georgian’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program, which helped ease the transition.
“I met the best teachers I’ve ever had. They were my support system to start the new chapter in my life. They helped me believe in myself again.”
Why did you choose your program, and what excites you most about it?
“I saw a video on Tik Tok about learning the Flutter coding language in five lessons. The video didn’t teach everything, but it was enough to make me fall in love with programming. The more I learned, the more I loved it.”
That spark led him to Georgian’s Computer Programming and Analysis program. Now, he’s building a new future, one project at a time.
What do you do for fun?
“I run. When I run, I feel free. I feel like I’m moving toward something.”
Badr has already participated in several running events since arriving in Canada and is working on starting a running club at Georgian. To him, running isn’t just a hobby. It’s a reminder of how far he’s come and how far he still wants to go.
What’s something about Georgian that made you feel supported?
“The WUSC community that I mentioned before. They supported me and tried to make me feel at home as much as they could. Also, Luay. He has been with me since I arrived.”
What advice would you give someone who is starting over or going through a big life change?
“Just give it time, effort and faith, and everything will change.”
If you could go back and talk to yourself on your first day at college, what would you say?
“I would tell myself: this is a new beginning. Make it worth it.”
About the Student Refugee Program (SRP)
The SRP is the only program in the world that combines refugee resettlement with postsecondary education. Through a partnership between WUSC and more than 100 campuses across Canada, the program supports over 150 refugee students each year. Georgian College is proud to be part of this important initiative.