About Us
Supporting International Students Practically, Socially, and Spiritually
Helping International Students is a Christian charity that creates local networks that provide international students support programs, resources, and community relationships that help them thrive practically, socially, and spiritually.
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We achieve this goal by working with local churches and organizations to mobilize volunteers and financial support to provide events and programming designed to serve the felt needs of international students in cities across Canada.
Our Story
In 2018, Hamilton International Students started as informal group of Christian volunteers wanting to address the gap in programming and supports for international students in Hamilton Ontario. We began hosting free community dinners and organizing friendship meals for students to join local families for meals in their homes over the holidays. We were quickly overwhelmed by the number of students interested in these events and, over the next couple of years, committed more time and resources, in partnership with local churches and organizations, to developing additional programming and services such as career mentorship programs, pandemic grocery supports (through government funding), and housing supports. Now, in 2024, our programs have expanded to several cities across Canada and are supported by like-minded volunteers and organizations. Incorporated as Helping International Students, our organization now a registered charity that supports the delivery of needs-based services for international students Canada-wide.
Our Objectives
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Partake in, sustain, or create a network of community and religious organizations to advocate for the support of international students, and mobilize the coordination of community resources in a city.
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Create local platforms that provide a central place for reliable programs, resources, and data to help cities effectively support international students practically, socially, and spiritually.
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Design standardized scalable felt-need programs that can be used throughout HIS cities across the country, also known as foundational programs.
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Audit and maintain standards of practice in HIS cities to ensure compliance and reliability of programing.
Our National Strategic Partners
