Bazibuhe (Bazi) was born in Congo DRC and spent most of his life in a Zambian refugee camp known as ‘’Meheba settlement” located in the Northwestern province. He completed high school in Meheba and was trained in child and youth care work by the National Association of Child and Youth Care Work (NACCW) of South Africa. Bazi came to Canada in 2017 as a permanent resident. Bazi shared "when I arrived, I was so lonely and had nothing to do in my apartment, so I thought of going to school to see if I can continue with my career as a front-line worker".
He chose NorQuest because he had read about the college, and liked the programs offered. Bazi first started by taking English as a second language (ESL) courses and then transitioned into a diploma in Settlement Studies in the fall of 2020. He has since graduated in spring 2022. "I took this program because I wanted to keep advocating for people and ensuring that their voices are heard and listened to" shared Bazi. In addition to his studies, Bazi took on various roles at the college during his studies including being a Student Ambassador, International Peer-Mentor, Intercultural Engagement Club President and more!
And Bazi is still finding ways to connect and give back to the college, by becoming a member of our newly founded Alumni Advisory Committee. When applying for a role on the committee, Bazi shared that "I really want to join this team of great and hard-working people to provide adequate support to fellow refugees, immigrants, and international student and to bring students, staff, and graduates together to ensure we keep empowering one another and making sure each one of us has the appropriate tools to reach our full potential."
Looking to the future, Bazi decided he wasn't done being a student yet, and is currently continuing his studies at Athabasca University to complete his degree in Humanities. Speaking about his learnings and role as a support worker, Bazi shared "I play a big role in making sure that Newcomers in our communities are assisted and given tools to reach their potential. As an advocate, I have kept on increasing my professional growth by continuous learning, and I want to keep passing those skills to others so that we can move ahead together."
I play a big role in making sure that Newcomers in our communities are assisted and given tools to reach their potential. As an advocate, I have kept on increasing my professional growth by continuous learning, and I want to keep passing those skills to others so that we can move ahead together.