A virtual celebration highlighting valuable bursary donor contributions and the impact the awards have on newcomer recipients and their educational and career pursuits were memorable moments shared among attendees during ISSofBC’s virtual Annual General Meeting September 16.
The Bursary awards, hosted by ISSofBC Bursary Committee Chair Sasha Ramnarine, allowed recipients to meet donors online to share what each bursary means to them and how funds will be used to pursue their career goals.
Pritam Singh & Beant Kaur Benning Bursary Awardee Honia Gharib, originally from Northern Iraq-Kurdistan region, said the bursary will help with the goals of becoming a community support counsellor.
“It is with the dream of building a better world that I seek higher education, and I thank ISSofBC for awarding me the Pritam Singh and Beant Kaur Benning Bursary. This bursary will play a key role in helping me achieve my educational dreams,” said during her award speech.
Established by Pritam and Beant’s children, the bursary honours the memory of their parents to help newcomers in their journeys through post-secondary education.
Other bursaries awarded were:
April English Bursary – to Sediqa Sarwari
Arbutus Financial Services Bursary – to Syrgak Elemanov
Cheryl Anderson Bursary – to Fatemehsadat Mousavichimeh
De Jager Volkenant Bursary – to EunJoo Kim
Lower Mainland Urgent, Family & Primary Care Centres Bursary – to Vivian Anifowoshe
Michael Danchuk Bursary – to Muhssin Kharotti
Pietro Widmer Bursary – to Raghdaa Nastah
Renée Van Halm Bursary – to Upama Zaman
Wolfgang Strigel Bursary – to Zahra Amirhosseini
The AGM was also an opportunity to highlight the organization’s accomplishments over the last fiscal year including accelerated technological advances to further expand online operations and services to ensure clients were supported in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis.
In addition, former Chief Executive Officer Patricia Woroch gave her final report during the meeting and introduced Jonathan Oldman as he started his new role as CEO this September.
Bursary recipients are immigrant and refugee clients with goals of completing their education at accredited institutions in Metro Vancouver.
Congratulations to all bursary awardees!
Visit ISSofBC’s About Us webpage to read the latest Annual Report and learn more about ISSofBC’s Board of Directors.
