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St. Catharines, Ont. – February 22, 2013 – Get on board! S.A.M.E. (Students Against Migrant Exploitation) is about to embark on an historic journey – to engage students across Ontario to defend human rights and fight for migrant worker justice. The journey begins March 18, at Brock University in St. Catharines; the first of a series of S.A.M.E. events in support of Migrant Worker Awareness Week 2013.

S.A.M.E. is Canada's leading student movement to empower and inform youth on issues about migration and migrant workers. "S.A.M.E. aims to inform the broad community about the harsh reality that tens of thousands of migrant workers who come to Canada face each year," says national representative Pablo Godoy, who helps to coordinate the S.A.M.E. program. "We conduct a lot of our outreach and programs through the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) which supplies support services through 10 migrant agriculture worker assistance centers across Canada. Migrant Worker Awareness Week is another opportunity for students and youth to inform themselves about the tremendous contribution migrant workers make to our community."

In 2012, S.A.M.E. partnered with Guelph University Professor Kerry Preibisch and her fourth-year sociology class to launch Canada’s first-ever Migrant Worker Awareness Week  – with videos, films and seminars on the challenges facing migrant workers in Canada. Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception by hundreds of students in 2012, S.A.M.E. has expanded the 2013 Awareness Week tour to reach across the province.

Staying true to the S.A.M.E. philosophy that the best way to motivate young people is through other young people, ten S.A.M.E. student volunteers will host seminars for other students from March 10 - 18, at campuses across Ontario including the University of Guelph, Brock, Queen’s, York, McMaster University, George Brown College, Sheridan College, as well as at a number of elementary and secondary schools.

"The goal of S.A.M.E. during Migrant Worker Awareness Week is to encourage cross-cultural understanding of migration and migrant workers," says Brother Godoy," and to show students how they can make a big difference when it comes to social justice in their community during Migrant Worker Awareness Week andthroughout the year.”

If your campus or school wants to take part in this historic event, and would like to book one of S.A.M.E.’s young and dynamic motivational speakers, please send your request to [email protected] .

Spots are filling up fast, so book your presentation today!