Western Heads East

Just a reminder that we've migrated our Western Heads East content over to the main Western International page and we'll be closing this page down shortly. 👉 Please follow us on our main Western International page for regular updates on Western Heads East. Thank you!

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Dechante Johnson and Raphaela Kestler are two of more than 50 international students from 10 different countries completing research in astrophysics, climate change, artificial intelligence and a wide range of other areas of study at Western this summer as part of the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) program.

“I’m considering going into neuroscience research and want to be sure about my plan. This experience has been very positive so far. It’s also been great to meet people from around the world who are all interested in research.” ~ Dechante Johnson

Read more about them and the GRI program at international.uwo.ca/learning/news/2022/mitacs_globalink_research_internship_brings_student_researchers_from_around_the_world_to_western_this_summer.html

Do you have questions about immigration, travel or study permits? Join our international student advisors for FAQ Friday tomorrow (Aug 12)!

Find out more and register to get the meeting link at westernuniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vf-GgrDssGt104SDiutlif34ds0XIzoMP

Physical activities like running can be a great way to manage stress.

Do you want to learn more about stress management and mental health services on and off campus? Come to Global Café on August 11, 3 pm to 5 pm, on UCC's Concrete Beach, for fun games and activities that can help you to de-stress.

Mental Health Counsellor Caroline Lacelle from Wellness and Well-being at Western will also be there to answer general questions related to mental health.

We hope to see you there!

Don't miss your chance to help welcome new international students to Western! Apply by August 10 at 9 am to be an International Student Orientation volunteer! iesc.uwo.ca/about_us/volunteer/

Please note, the Western International office, including Western Heads East, will be operating virtually due to construction until August 8. For assistance, please contact us at 519- 661-2111 ext. 89309 or by email to [email protected].

On August 2 & August 3 the Western International office, including Western Heads East, will be operating virtually due to construction. For assistance, please contact us at 519- 661-2111 ext. 89309 or by email to [email protected].

Today is Emancipation Day in Canada. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire, which laid a pathway to freeing over 800,000 enslaved Africans and their descendants from parts of the Caribbean, Africa, and South America and confirmed Canada as a free territory for enslaved African Americans. However, for most enslaved people in British North America, the act only resulted in partial liberation as it only freed children under the age of six, while others became apprentices to be retained. Beyond slavery, many Black people were still subject to other forms of oppression, hate, racism, and violence.

Even today, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour still face challenges of systemic violence and racism in Canada. This fall, Western’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will be sharing three online education modules titled “Building Inclusivity through Anti-Racism”, “Historical Review of Racism in Canada”, and “Transforming Power and White Privilege” to help our community learn about racism, hate, and oppression faced by equity-deserving groups in Canada.

It is everyone’s responsibility to work for justice and reparations. On this Emancipation Day, we acknowledge and recognize the history of enslaved peoples in Canada and around the world. We are committed to dismantling systematic violence and racism and working towards equity, inclusion, and decolonization at Western.

Reminder: our office will be closed on Monday, August 1. We'll be back and ready to support you on Tuesday, August 2, at 9 am! Have a happy and safe weekend!

Thanks to our student photographer Estella Ren for providing this beautiful photo!

International students inside Canada, are you making plans to travel outside Canada before fall term? A lot has changed with entry requirements during 2022. Make sure you know about re-entry vaccination requirements BEFORE you go so you don’t get stranded outside Canada.

Find information and updates at iesc.uwo.ca/internationalarrival

Looking for something fun to do this week? Join us for Global Café on Thursday, July 28, from 3 pm to 5 pm on UCC's Concrete Beach!

We'll be painting flowerpots, sowing seeds and socializing! All students (Canadian and international) are welcome and refreshments will be provided!

Are you a graduate student who likes communicating with others? Do you want to take on a leadership position and organize your own events? Apply to be an International Transitions Activity Coordinator and be part of the team who work to connect international and Canadian students through Global Cafe events!

This is a great experience for students who want to get involved in student transitions, who want more leadership experience, or who just want to make more friends. By joining the team, you will gain skills in planning large campus events, working with different clubs around campus, and more.

Apply by July 30 at academicsupport.uwo.ca/transition_leadership__enrichment/leadership_programming/western_peer_leaders.html

Twenty years ago, Stephen Lewis, former UN special envoy on the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, lit a spark that resulted in Western Heads East.

Speaking at a conference held at Western, he challenged the audience to unite and take action against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Western staff, faculty and students answered that call, creating a multi-faceted program based on Western research and collaboration with African partners, that has improved the health and sustainable development of communities ever since.

Learn more about the impact of Western Heads East on our 20th anniversary website westernheadseast.ca/20th_anniversary/impact_infographics.html

Join us tomorrow for another Western International Instagram takeover!

Meet Mohammad, a third-year student in the Faculty of Science - Western University who is specializing in biology and completing an internship at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi in Kenya this summer as part of the Western Heads East program.

His assignment is to work with faculty mentors on research in mental health awareness in the Kenyan context and raise awareness of counselling services available in the community.

In this photo, Mohammad is visiting Nairobi Mamba Village, a reptile farm located in Kenya.

Be sure to check out our Stories tomorrow, July 19, when Mohammad will be taking over to share a day in his life as an intern!

You can also check out "Students Abroad" in our highlights for more activity this summer.

Leadership opportunity! The Fundraising and Education Committee for Western Heads East is recruiting a communication coordinator.

If you are creative and would like to improve or learn social media content creation skills apply by July 22 at form.typeform.com/to/tdJFBUzm

This position is ideal for students interested in global and intercultural engagement and gaining practical experience in a non-profit context.

Did you know Western Heads East is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year? Save the date for our anniversary celebration event – October 6, 2022, 4 to 6 pm at The Great Hall, Western University.

In the meantime, be sure to visit our special 20th Anniversary website to hear from past interns, view a photo gallery, share a memory and get all the details on our anniversary year.

And stay tuned to our social channels over the next few months as we share highlights and milestones of 20 Years of Changemakers through Western Heads East! westernheadseast.ca/20th_anniversary

Did you know Western offers many different support programs related to career services, academic services, writing support and more?

Join us for Global Café on Thursday, July 14, from 3 to 5 pm in the tent on UCC's Concrete Beach to learn more. Ann Ayinde, Career Coach at Western will be there to answer questions and there will be games and refreshments too!

All students (Canadian and international) are welcome!

This Canada Day, we wish you a safe and enjoyable long weekend.

We encourage everyone to think critically about what it means to be Canadian as we work toward Truth and Reconciliation and the elimination of systemic racism and all forms of oppression.

If we acknowledge the historical and ongoing injustices Indigenous People endure in Canada, then we should also reflect on the complexity of celebrating Canada Day post-Truth and Reconciliation, alongside a year of the recovery of thousands of Residential School graves.

We encourage everyone to learn about and reflect on pre-Confederation Indigenous Treaties such as the Dish With One Spoon and Two Row Wampum, as well as the Peace and Friendship Treaties, Indigenous-Crown Treaties, and post-Confederation Treaties with Indigenous Peoples.

To help reveal and correct miseducation, Western has committed funding to develop Indigenous curriculum resources. These six teaching modules, called Learning Bundles, can be used by instructors to incorporate Indigenous worldviews in their classroom.

As part of our commitment to renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities, on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, we will join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives in celebrating the opening of the Indigenous Learning Space. This is a hub for Indigenous peoples and learning on campus, with gathering spaces, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and more.

We are proud of the steps Western has taken to begin decolonizing and embedding Indigenous learning into our education and practice and recognize the ongoing work that needs to be done. This work would not be possible without the leadership of our Indigenous faculty, staff and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

To learn more, visit indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Biindigen%20Indigenous%20Learning%20Circles/Biindigens-Indigenous-History-Month-2022.html

COVID-19 masking mandate Updated COVID-19 policy for summer term

Please note our office will be closed from June 30 to July 4 for an extended Canada Day long weekend!

If you're looking for Canada Day celebrations in the London area later this week, you can find some information at todocanada.ca/canada-day-london-celebrations-events-festivals/

Unfortunately, we continue to hear about international students being targets for scams. A scam is a fraudulent scheme to steal money and/or personal information. It can come through email, text, by phone, or sometimes in person.

When in doubt, contact our office for support. Find out more at iesc.uwo.ca/student_life/safety/scams_and_fraud.html

On June 22 at 10 a.m. ET, will take part in an interactive online event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will deliver a live video address to university students across Canada. Hosted by University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the event will be live streamed on their YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/munkschool

Join us for Global Café on Thursday, June 23, from 3 to 5 pm in the tent on UC Hill. This week, you can learn more about Canada while reconnecting with your friends and making new ones. We also have some fun games planned!

All Western students are welcome (international and Canadian).

We are excited to meet you at UC Hill this Thursday!

Western students have been spending time with community organizations Centre Marembo Organization and Aspire Rwanda in Rwanda these last several weeks, as part of the experiential learning course, “Rwanda: Culture, Society and Reconstruction” offered through Arts and Humanities at Western.

The five-week international experience abroad enables students to engage with community members and build upon skills and knowledge gained during the course – on topics related to community engaged learning, intercultural competence, cross-cultural communication, global citizenship, leadership and teamwork, and the Rwandan Genocide.

Pictured:
1. The class with teachers and staff at Aspire Rwanda, a non-profit organization that supports poor and marginalized children, youth, men and women.
2. student Rakshana teaching kids at Aspire.
3. student Yenny playing with kids at Aspire at break time.
4. The class at a Genocide Memorial in Rwanda.
5. The class at a memorial for Belgian soldiers who lost their lives during the genocide.
6. The class at Centre Marembo, a national Non-Governmental Organization that was established with a vision of restoring dignity and integration of girls who are victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Last chance! Enter The Global Undergraduate Awards by June 17 at 12 pm EDT. Take your outstanding course work and make it shine on the world stage! It’s free to enter up to 3 submissions.

Who can enter? Classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 across all undergraduate programs, including professional programs and students at Brescia, Huron and King’s.

More info at international.uwo.ca/learning/global_at_home/undergraduate_awards.html.

Have you ever thought about doing an internship abroad? It's a great way to earn work experience while developing your global and cross-cultural skills.

Just ask Nada and Nadia - two Health Sciences students who are completing an internship in Norway OsloMet University this summer through Aging Globally: Lessons from Scandinavia, a Global Skills Opportunity program.

Be sure to follow Western International's Instagram Stories tomorrow, June 13, when Nada and Nadia takeover and share their experiences abroad!