Pursuit of social justice inspires NorQuest College graduate
July 19, 2012
A graduate of NorQuest College's Social Work with a Multicultural Focus diploma program, Temam Batee says he chose the program to support his community.
For Batee, it's a community that extends from his home in Edmonton to his homeland of Oromo/Ethiopia.
Batee and his family fled Oromo/Ethiopia for Canada about 12 years ago. Since then, he has been a tireless advocate for Oromo/Ethiopia by helping raise awareness about the country's social and political conditions. In Ottawa, he recently attended the Ethio-Canadian Social Justice Forum whose goal is to ensure Ethiopia becomes free and democratic.
"Social work is really about the pursuit of social justice," says Batee, who has also travelled as far as Nuremberg, Germany to speak about Ethiopian issues.
"Helping people who may have faced similar challenges to my own is part of why I chose to study social work. It's the right profession for me and offers me a way to give back."
The College's Social Work with a Multicultural Focus diploma program emphasizes and teaches the value of human diversity and teaches the practice in a supportive and empowering environment. First offered in 2008-2009, the program recently received accreditation status from the Professional Social Work Education Board of the Alberta College of Social Workers, the regulatory body of the social work profession in Alberta.
NorQuest College Community Studies Chair Dr. Eugene Ip says the unique work and academic ambitions of graduates like Batee demonstrate the broad range of opportunities available in the social work field. An outstanding 95 per cent of the College's graduates find employment or continue their education.
"NorQuest's program prepares professionals for the human service field and prepares students for further education," Ip says. "We see our graduates as caring, socially conscious and competent change agents in the communities they serve."
Whether it's achieving justice for Ethiopia or attaining academic excellence, Batee says he thinks anything is possible with the right attitude.
"In Canada, you can be anyone and do anything as long as you make the effort to change your life," he says.
When applying to the Social Work with a Multicultural Focus diploma program, students are required to complete an admission interview to ensure they meet the admission and practicum requirements. Please contact NorQuest College Community Studies at 780-644-6410 for more information. For more information about the College, visit www.norquest.ca.