Congratulations to BSW3 student Christie Bernados, recipient of the 2022-23 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund. Along with community partner Chandu Claver of the Damayan Society for Migrant Education and Resources, Christie receives $25,000 for the following project:
Building knowledge, building power: Empowering migrant Filipino communities through education, community-building, and self-advocacy
“Building Knowledge, Building Power: Empowering Migrant Filipino Communities Through Education, Community-Building, and Self-Advocacy,” is a partnership between Damayan Society for Migrant Education and Resources, a registered non-profit which assists Filipino migrants with adjustment to life in British Columbia and Christie Bernados, a member of Sulong UBC, a student group that advocates for diversity and inclusion for Filipinos on campus and in their communities and for human rights in the Philippines. The project is supported by Dr. Amanda R. Cheong from the Department of Sociology.
According to the 2021 census, Filipinos make up the second largest group of immigrants in Vancouver. Many Filipinos struggle with racism, language/cultural barriers, labour exploitation, and economic hardship, family separation, isolation, and alienation from their culture. This partnership aims to foster connections between Filipino students at UBC and the Filipino community within the Greater Vancouver area, especially international students outside of UBC and youth migrant workers, by hosting community events and capacity-building workshops that will empower marginalized Filipinos to advocate for their rights and build meaningful connection.
