Migrant Worker Family Members Winners of Unique UFCW Canada Scholarship

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 19, 2012) - Twenty extraordinary students from across the globe are the latest recipients of the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships. The recipients were selected from over 4,000 applications from migrant workers across Canada, who under this unique scholarship program can nominate their children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, or nieces, and nephews as scholarship applicants. The nominee must be between 4 and 25 years of age, and attending or planning to attend an educational institution in their home country.

"My father is one of many who travel to Canada from Mexico yearly to see a better future for his family. Therefore, I feel honoured to be selected for this scholarship," says Allan Giovanni Prieto Catana, one of 20 recipients who each receive a $500 scholarship, and together comprise a diverse group of young people from the Global South, ranging in age from 6 to 24, and attending school in Guatemala, the Philippines, Jamaica, Honduras, and Mexico.

EDUCATION HAS NO BORDERS is the spirit of commitment which led to the creation of the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships. This scholarship program is the first of its kind in North America, and likely the world. "It has certainly been a privilege to be able to share in our recipients' education," says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. "With a commitment to justice, we continue to ensure that more workers entering Canada under the draconian Temporary Foreign Workers Program are empowered to improve the lives of their families back home through the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarship."

UFCW Canada is the country's largest private-sector union and a long-time advocate for improved labour and safety rights for migrant and temporary foreign workers. The 20 recipients of this season's scholarships were all nominated by family members employed across Canada as migrant or temporary foreign workers in a variety of sectors.

The recipients of the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships are:

Amber Johanna Rupinan, age 7 (Philippines), Chris Lorenz Villanueva, age 9 (Philippines), Joyce Anne M. Custodio, age 10 (Philippines), Hennique Henry, age 16 (Jamaica), Katherine Pamela Vallecillo Duron, age 7 (Honduras), Osbaldo Gonzalez Frias, age 12 (Mexico), Mariana Galindo Zamora, age 15 (Mexico), Tomeaca Bell, age 19 (Jamaica), Allan Giovanni Prieto Catana, age 24 (Mexico), Denisse Isamar Canett Garcia, age 16 (Mexico), Kashna Tucker, age 8 (Jamaica), Marvin Amilcar Ajqui Ajqui, age 17 (Guatemala), Hanna B. Calvarido, age 6 (Philippines), Tamika Gayle, age 12 (Jamaica), Malinali Rosaura Padilla Cuaxilotl, age 13 (Mexico), Cecilia Hernandez Celis, age 13 (Mexico), Ricardo Mora Morales, age 12 (Mexico), Itzel Gomez Moreno, age 15 (Mexico), Karla Lechuga Velazquez, age 14 (Mexico), David Flores Porfirio, age 18 (Mexico).

The UFCW Canada Migrant Worker Scholarship program for 2012 will again offer 20 scholarships of $500.00 each. Applications can be made and submitted online in six languages including English, French, Spanish, Thai, Pilipino, and Chinese. Applications can also be downloaded for printing and distribution from www.ufcw.ca/migrantscholarships. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2012.

For more information, including photographs and interviews with the winners, please contact: