Ukrainian students in GTA rally support for international students

Mar 17, 2022 | Campus News, International News, News

Ukrainian student clubs across the Greater Toronto Area have begun rallying in support of students and people from the war-torn nation.

Ontario’s first student-led rally for Ukraine was held on March 12 in front of Toronto’s Russian Consulate.

The President of the Ukrainian Students’ Club at Humber College, Kebrija Leeks-Kottick, said the rally was organized by the Ukrainian Students’ Clubs at X University, University of York, University of Toronto, University of Guelph, Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber, McMaster University, and University of Toronto Mississauga.

She said the decision to rally was triggered by the inadequate response international students received from universities and colleges in the city.

Leeks-Kottick said while Humber College was one of the first schools across Canada to offer bursaries, food vouchers and mental health support, there are still more things that need to be done.

She said most of the support provided is temporary and long-term fixes need to be considered.

The President of the Ukrainian Students’ club at X University, Alexandra Holyk, said while many postsecondary institutions have been supporting their students, some have yet to take action.

She said the clubs are calling out institutions to provide academic, humanitarian and financial support.

Granting extensions, arranging counselling sessions, and providing students with grants to support themselves and their families are some ways institutions could help Ukrainian students, Holyk said.

Following the rally, a vigil was set up at the University of Guelph on March 16.

Leeks-Kottick said student clubs will continue holding vigils across the city in the coming weeks.

She said the response received by students has been overwhelming. Students reached out to the clubs after not being able to contact their parents, fearing the worst, Leeks-Kottick said.

A few international students from Humber are stuck in Ukraine, whereas others and their families have been able to escape from Hungary or Poland, she said.

Leeks-Kottick said families of students have also been stuck in Poland due to expensive flight tickets.

Three students holding posters.
Poster 1: WORLD PEACE
Poster 2: THERE IS NOTHING GOOD IN WAR EXCEPT ITS ENDING
Poster 3: Painting of a sunflower.

Students created posters and sang songs to display their support at the rally in Toronto. Photo credit: Janice Saji

A Ukrainian international student at Humber, Yaroslav Zemlianko, said his family chose to stay behind in Ukraine in hopes of the war ending soon.

A native of Sumy, about 330 kilometres east of the capital Kyiv, said his city had been blocked by the Russian army.

Zemlianko said his family is stuck in their apartment, staying away from walls with windows. He said they’ve settled into a routine of taking harbour in the bunker below their house once street alerts were sent.

A global business management student at Humber said shelling in residential areas and urban infrastructure has increased.

Half of the city now lives without internet, electricity, gas, and a consistent water supply, he said.

The only utility constantly available is a mobile network, he said.

Zemlianko said he hopes colleges can provide financial aid to international students as most of their families are now unemployed, leaving them without a source of income.

He said the Canadian government needs to consider temporarily lifting visa requirements for Ukrainians.