John Chamberlin education fund aids former refugees o former refugees Tl:aw-e each recently been awarded $3,000 grants from the John Chamberlin refugee trainâ€" ing/education fund. Area residents, Kurosh Shahabi from Iran and Massuda Ebrahimi from Afghanistan received the awards from a memorial fund established by Anna Hemmendinger, the widow of Wilfrid Laurier University. English professor John Chamberlin who died in 1999. "I think he‘d be really delighted that people are being given a chance to have meaningful employâ€" ment," says Hemmendinger of her husband. "Particularâ€" ly, people who want to give something back to the comâ€" munity." There is a careful appliâ€" cation and interview process that students must first complete but, while grades and financial need are primary factors in how recipients are selected, Hemmendinger says they are not the only aspects that are considered with the awards. "Part of what we do is to try and have some variation in the region of people we select, so that‘s a partial facâ€" tor," Hemmendinger explains. "But the idea of the award is that it will actually make a significant differâ€" ence in their lives in terms of them gaining earning power in a field that has perâ€" sonal relevance to them and gives them a sense of conâ€" tributing to society and feelâ€" ing like they‘re using their own skills." Aready a graduate of Wilfrid Laurfer University, Kurosh Shahabi left Iran in 1991 and has been in Canaâ€" da since December of 1992. Shahabi and his wife are both Kurdish and have experienced, firsthand, the By Visn Kianna For The Chronicle 000 oppression of the Turkish, Iranian, and Iraqi governâ€" ments. "Kurds have been in a struggle for more than 100 years," Shahabi states. "Just for getting basic rights, these governments use chemical weapons against them. 1 would like to do something for this poor nation in the future." Neither proâ€"U.S. nor proâ€" war, Shahabi has been involved in a peaceful movement that opposes violent conflicts between Kurds and their oppressors. Shahabi plans to use the grant to pursue graduate studies in Development and International Studies at the University of Guelph where he hopes to work towards improving the standards of life for impoverished and marginalized people in Third World countries. Massuda Ebrahimi left Afghanistan for India with her immediate family and arrived in Canada three years ago. â€" _ "When we were in India, the Indian government decided to move all the LIFESTYLE Afghani people and then all these embassies started accepting applications for migrating and the United Nations helped us to come here," she explains gently. In the aftermath of Sepâ€" tember 11th, Afghanistan was ravaged by a U.S.â€"led attack and Ebrahimi‘s family is among those who were personally affected by the global tragedy. "We feel very, very bad for all the innocent people who died," she says emoâ€" tionally. "It was a pretty sad thing that happened Because of these politicians and all who are making these fights and all the innoâ€" cent people are dying. All the innocent people in my country, in my family, have died. My cousins died in the war because of the bombs." As soon as she receives her passport, Ebrahimi plans to visit her hometown of Kabul but, in the meanâ€" time, she will continue her studies in business adminisâ€" tration at Conestoga College before eventually transferâ€" ring to WLU for Administraâ€" tive Accounting. The grant HRONICLI has been a lifesaver of sorts for Ebrahimi. "Last year when 1 paid my tuition, I had to borrow money from my uncle," she says. "This year, because of the grant, 1 didn‘t have to borrow and I got to pay for my tuition myself. " Shahibi too is thrilled by the award and hopes that generations of people in similar gircumstances may benefit fmm such generosiâ€" "I am really appreciative to the people who estabâ€" lished this award," he says. "I wish that these types of opportunities were more available to refugees." To date, the fund has awarded $26,500 to nine forâ€" mer refugees living in Waterloo region to pursue further education. Others who share Chamberlin‘s passion can make donations to the fund so that it can continue in perpetuity. Tax receipts will be issued for donations made out to: John Chamberlin Refugee Fund, Mennonite Foundation of Canada, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchâ€" ener, ON., N2G 3R1. Start your engines for a good cause. The Huntington Society of Canada will host its eighth annual Huntington‘s Indy Goâ€"Kart Challenge Sept. 14 at Sportsworld. â€""We‘re hoping to recruit as many teams as possible from our community to join our race for a cure," says local volunteer organizer Ariel Walker. There are five ways to contribute to this event: entering a team of up to six drivers; driving solo; joinâ€" ing the "pit crew" with a monetary donation; sponsorâ€" ing a team; or sponsoring an event with a monetary or prize donation. All proceeds raised by the Indy will go towards the fight against Huntington disease (HD), a fatal herediâ€" tary brain disorder with devastating effects on both mind and body. Over its lengthy course, HD leads to incapacitation and death and is, at present, incurable. HD touches the lives of approximately one in every 1,000 Canadians and every child of a person afflicted with the disease has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting it, making it "a disease of families." Huntington‘s Society hosts indy go kart challenge "Funds raised in this year‘s Indy will go a long way in supporting the Society‘s programs," Walker says. "In 2002, the national Indy program raised over $150,000. And in 2003 â€" with increased community participation â€" we‘re confident we can gain even more momentum and shatter that record."_ For pledge sheets or more information about the event, contact Jim Frizzell at 572â€"9190 or the Huntingâ€" ton Saciety of Canada‘s office at 749â€"8491. Bail on your boat, trade in your trailer, surrender your sedan in support of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. The Kidney Foundation of Canada has launched a new and improved Kidney Car Program in partnerâ€" ship with McKensie‘s Associated Auctioneers. The proâ€" gram accepts cars, vans and trucks, RV‘s, boats and motorcycles. The Kidney Car Program is a simple, quick and convenient way to dispose of your unwanted vehicles. Donors receive a tax receipt for the fair market value of their car as well as a free tow. The fair market value is the price the vehicle sells for at public auction. If it cannot be sold, it will be recycled at a local salvage yard and the donor will receive a tax receipt for $60. The Kidmey Car Program is great for the environment too. All donated vehicles are either reused or recycled. + Proceeds from the program are used within the community in which they are raised to fund a variety of programs including public education, organ donaâ€" tion awareness and medical research. To help fight against kidney disease, please call the Kidney Car Program today at 1â€"866â€"788â€"CARS (2277). Kidney Foundation extends car donation program Canadian Travel & Cruises VYacations on Sale 886â€"