Marina Hutton has pretty good luck when it comes to seeking out and making arrangements for educational adventures around the world.
Last year, she decided that she wanted to look into a student exchange program to spend three months in Spain. As it turned out, her instincts couldn’t have been much better. She submitted her application in the nick of time, right on the deadline.
“Just after the deadline, actually,” she laughed. “They ended up extending it for me for some reason.”
This year, the same itch caught the Concordia student and she wound up searching Google for university student learning opportunities related to development work. She came upon a six-week international seminar in Vietnam, taking place this summer. This time around, she still had two days before the deadline. That was more than enough leeway to get her application in.
“I’m pulling together everything at the last minute. It all worked out,” the exuberant teen said.
She learned a few months ago that she was one of 20 students from across the country to be accepted and she couldn’t be happier. Now she’s counting down the days until she catches her flight.
“I’m really excited. It’s actually coming,” she said. “I’m going to be there soon. I can’t wait to get on the ground.”
The name of her seminar is Youth in the Workforce and the Socioeconomic Development of Vietnam. It’s administered by the Uniterra program, a joint effort between the World University Service of Canada and the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Co-operation.
The primary reason she is so thrilled to get accepted is that Uniterra is already involved in the Tra Vinh province, helping to dissolve language and gender barriers, improve access to quality education and overcome financial and economic challenges.
“They’re already working there and we’re actually going to be doing the research that they will be implementing into their programs to help the people.”
Uniterra pays most of the costs with some financial assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency. To make sure that they are taking on a committed individual, however, each participant must also raise $3,000.
Hutton said she is only about one-third of the way there but she has a lot of local support. La Crema CaffĂ© on St. Thomas Street is giving out coffee this week to patrons who make a donation to Hutton’s fund.
Popular local yoga instructor Gina Geres is also offering a special fundraiser that should help Hutton stretch her money. Geres will be conducting a basic yoga class for experienced and inexperienced yoga practitioners. This will take place at Albert Lacombe School from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Anyone over 14 can make a minimum $10 donation to get in. It’s a co-ed session and participants are asked to RSVP with Hutton at 780-267-1416 beforehand.
For more information on the program, please visit www.wusc.ca/en/volunteer/seminar.
