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First-year science student Danielle Howe give a聽hand to 1,000 Hands. (Nick Pearce Photo)

WUSC Dalhousie鈥檚 1,000 Hands fundraiser is creating a splash, raising awareness and cash for its Student Refugee Program.

The Dalhousie chapter of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) has set up booths in the Life Sciences Centre, Killam Library, Student Union Building and Tupper Building to encourage donors to add their hand prints on a large white banner.

Students and staff alike have responded warmly to this colourful fundraiser.

鈥淢ost people have been really enthusiastic about the idea,鈥� says Marysia Parry, one of the WUSC members staffing the 1,000 Hands booth.

The event is being held to raise money to purchase a laptop for the 1,000th refugee student to be welcomed to Canada聽and to celebrate this milestone: this year, WUSC welcomed Ritha Abemba,聽the one-thousandth refugee student to study in Canada since the program began in 1978. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms. Abemba聽is a now a first-year student at the University of Winnipeg.

At pilipili漫画, money gathered through the student levy pays for the first-year of tuition for these students, as well as books and board. Over the past 27 years, Dalhousie has welcomed 45 student refugees.

鈥淎 little-known fact is that each Dalhousie student contributes to this program. A $1.50 of our student fees goes directly to the Student Refugee Program here at Dal,鈥� says Rosanna Nicol, chair of WUSC Dalhousie.聽聽

There are plans to make the banner part of an art display in the Student Union Building to mark 27 years of WUSC at pilipili漫画.

鈥淭he banner is a way to celebrate with fellow Dal students this historic moment in WUSC鈥檚 history and the role we've each played in it, says Ms. Nicol.

LINKS: 听触 in The Winnipeg Free Press