Providing Community to International Students: Donate Today

This fall, FIUTS welcomed more than 1,900 new international students to the UW. The FIUTS Orientation program has always focused on building a sense of belonging. This year is even more important because students have faced so many barriers and so much isolation due to the pandemic. International students have come so far and worked so hard to be in Seattle and to pursue their dreams at the UW. As a community, together we can support their strength and meet their enthusiasm. Meet one of the many incredible international students to start at UW: Norma Garfias Avila from Tijuana, Mexico.

Norma facilitating a FIUTS trip to Mount Rainier National Park

Norma “kind of always knew” she wanted to study in the US. Last fall, she was invited to the University of Washington (UW) to pursue a Master’s in Public Health with a focus on culturally appropriate nutrition. Norma started her master’s program in the middle of the pandemic.

Even in normal times, making the choice to study in a different country and culture is incredibly brave. During a global pandemic, Norma faced even more barriers. She studied remotely for fall quarter but decided to come to Seattle in person in winter. Norma expressed how much of a challenge that experience was:

“I only knew four people in the city and everything was online. Also, it was always raining in Seattle, and in Tijuana there is only rain about thirty days in a year.”

Norma got involved in FIUTS activities right away: she shares:

“Online, I always felt this very thin barrier between me and my classmates, but in FIUTS activities everyone is so open to meeting me and exchanging across culture. I instantly felt very welcomed.”

Norma with other FIUTS students at Mount Rainier on the trip she facilitated.

With a donation to this year’s FIUTS Annual Campaign, you can provide support and resources to students like Norma. With your gift, you create unique cross-cultural experiences for students from every part of the world. You play a key role in building connections between our region and communities across the globe. Please make a gift today to welcome students starting in January.

Norma isn’t the only one looking for community. Every one of those 1,900 new international students is looking for a sense of normalcy and support that the pandemic has made it hard to find. With your help, FIUTS can continue to be a place of community and cross-cultural understanding that any student can depend on.

For FIUTS, rising prices are compounded by our efforts to protect students in the pandemic. We need larger rooms to ensure social distancing, and additional buses to prevent crowding. We’ve added events to keep group sizes smaller. All of this helps keep students safe, but it also all adds up. Students don’t have bigger budgets, though. In many cases, they are even more financially strapped than before. We want to keep the prices to participate in our programs as low as possible to remain accessible and welcoming to students. Every gift from you helps meet students where they are, with the support, opportunities, and community that they want and need. A gift of just $30 can welcome a student to Seattle with a free local experience.

Please make a donation to FIUTS today. Together we can ensure students are welcomed, engaged, and supported as we all navigate the next year.