Exchange student hoping to stay

Unfortunately, since her graduation from Lockeport Regional High School, Verbitskaya’s visa will be running out by the end of August and unless she is enrolled in post-secondary education, she will have to return to her home country of Belarus.

She was funded to come to Canada through the Canadian Relief Fund for Chernobyl Victims in Belarus.

Verbitskaya’s dream is to study languages, study Office Information Technology at the Nova Scotia Community College, and of course remain in what she now considers home.

The issue lies with the exceedingly high cost of education for international students. She is not eligible for any bursaries or loans, and is unable to work until she is enrolled in school for at least six months.

That of course is the catch-22.

Verbitskaya comes from a struggling country and is not able to secure any funds from her home country to train in Nova Scotia.

“I am not saying my country is so awful,” said Verbitskaya, “it’s that Canada is my home…I want to be Canadian.”

Currently she is staying near Lockeport with her host family and has been keeping busy volunteering 15 hours per week all year for the Atlantic Waves, a non-profit organization and adult workshop.

“Vica is a valuable member of the community and an active volunteer,” said Errin Williams Spidle, Organizer for the Women’s County Fishnet and Harmony Bazaar, “being in Canada has taught her to strive for more and want more from her life. It is quite irresponsible to dangle such a high standard of living in front of a child and then pull it away from them when they are starting their adult life.”

MLA for Shelburne County, Sterling Belliveau, has stepped forward to try to help Verbitskaya through government means but he is not optimistic there is much they can do.

He plans to meet with the Minister of Education to at least extend the tuition deadline for the community college so there will be time for money to be raised for her education.

The deadline for tuition is for August 4.

“My concern is the timeline,” said Belliveau, “if the minister refuses us then the community needs to step forward.”

Verbitskaya is worried that if she is to be sent back, her opportunity to enter Canada again will be lost.

“Belarus let’s people in but not out,” she explained.

“I don’t want people to feel sorry for me,” said Verbitskaya, “it’s not like I have no place to go…it’s hard to explain but I have a feeling I belong here. If I had the opportunity to have a job I would never ask people to help me.”

If she gets the opportunity to go to college in Shelburne Verbitskaya plans on getting her work visa after six months and working where she can to afford next year’s tuition. She also plans to apply for her immigration papers.

“When I get my papers I can be independent,” she said.

Her tuition with books and other school fees are close to $10,000.