Toronto/CMEDIA: International Youth Canada (IYC) organized a special event”Chai with CG” on January 24, in Toronto bringing together 22 student leaders from Ontario Colleges and Universities, educators , and members of the community youth groups.
In ‘Chai with CG’, a platform that has come up as the inspiring driving force for international
students in Canada, several key issues and challenges faced by international students in Canada were discussed by the Student leaders with Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India Toronto.
These included need for more support from Canadian authorities regarding difficulty in finding rental accommodation, safety and security while travelling on public transits, precarious employment, exploitation, racial profiling. Student leaders shared their concerns with the Consul General including many international students are being misguided by some unscrupulous agencies until boarding flights in India and finding things often quite different when theyarrive in Canada; Odd work shifts/conventional shifts leading students to reduced ability to focus on their academic program, or adding more stress to an already stressful life of newcomers to Canada.
Student leaders brought up out more than 20 areas where some forms of interventions are
essential or desirable. Mrs. Apoorva Srivastava, the Consul General endorsed the need for an action plan to redress or to minimize the impact of most pressing issues, and offered her support. She also
encouraged International Youth Canada to create more awareness before or as and when
students need it.
Providing more platforms for students to stay connected and reaching out to resources is a key area where International Youth Canada (IYC) and Community agencies can work together.
A non-profit organization, IYC supports students new to Canada to enhance their capabilities through various measures like networking events, awareness building, and guiding and connecting them to resources. The Consulate General of India has been taking a keen interest in ameliorating the challenges through various channels and directly interacting with students and community organizations.
After Jerin Raj, President of International Youth Canada welcomed the Consul General, and applauded the participants for joining the program, Prashant Srivastava, Director, for International Business Development Seneca College moderated the discussions highlighting key issues involved
Nagasarath Pandurangi, presented a preview of the most updated version of the International
Student guide for wider circulation among International students. Jose Varghese, acknowledged
the great support offered by the Consulate General’s Office and thanked CG Apoorva Srivastava, for her extensive initiatives connecting International students.
#Canada; #ChaiWithCG, #IYC, #internationalstudentsinCanada
