A crusader for refugees and immigrants committed to improving the lives of marginalized people in Canada is receiving an honorary degree from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
Edith Kambere, who arrived in Canada as a refugee and became an advocate for newcomers in Surrey, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws during convocation ceremonies at KPU Surrey on Feb. 25.
Kambere says she’s honoured to receive the recognition and its significance.
“This honorary degree in recognition of our work goes a long way to prove KPU's leadership in fostering community development," says Kambere.
As an exile from Uganda, Kambere fled with three of her four children to Congo, eventually reuniting with her husband and eldest son in Canada in 1992. In her new life in Canada, Kambere persevered, overcoming isolation, language barriers and poverty. Not only did she find work as a settlement counsellor, but she also started taking university courses, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2002, all while raising her children. She would go on to complete a master's degree in social work from the University of B.C., specialized in mental health issues.
Also in 2002, Kambere and her husband Amos Kambere founded the Umoja Operation Compassion Society, a not-for-profit organization focused on supporting newcomer immigrants and refugees living in Surrey.
“You cannot mention Umoja without acknowledging the work of Edith Kambere,” says Dr. Alan Davis, President and Vice-Chancellor at KPU. “The experience of Edith Kambere and her family mirror that of many newcomers to Canada, but particularly those at risk of marginalization.”
Umoja, the Swahili term for unity or oneness, seeks to empower immigrants and refugees to successfully integrate into an inclusive Canadian society.
As co-executive director, Edith Kambere ensured newcomers to Surrey in need of Umoja services were welcomed and would have every resource and opportunity available to them to succeed. Beyond this, Kambere’s most enduring service to her community is her support of women, knowing intimately the challenges women face as refugees. Kambere’s hope is to empower female newcomers to Surrey.
Kambere and her family also raised funds — by collecting bottles and cans for 15 years — to found the Rwentutu Community School in Uganda.
"KPU has done so well to invest in the local community by enhancing educational opportunities for newcomers, creating skilled talent for the local industries, as well as fostering trust and strong community partnerships," says Kambere.