“It’s the little things that we can contribute – beyond that, the least we can do is extend kindness and empathy because I can’t imagine going to another country where I don’t speak the language at the age of 18 with my entire family’s hopes and dreams on my shoulders,” – Rumneek Johal, Press Progress

Rumneek Johal is a reporter at Press Progress based in British Columbia, where she shares stories on systemic inequality, workers, and communities, as well as racism and far-right extremism. Rumneek is not afraid to ask the tough questions within her community, igniting different conversations by chipping away at the status quo. The Universal Radio Network’s Sapreet Buttar sat down with Rumneek to discuss an article she wrote titled “International Students Are Dying at an Alarming Rate. But BC’s Government Isn’t Tracking the Problem” and a variety of topics within the article including the challenges and pressures international students face when coming to Canada, what we as a community can do to aid these students and more in this interview.

In the beginning of the interview, Rumneek explains her role at Press Progress (10:38), her intentions behind the article she wrote in regards to international students and drug overdose in British Columbia (11:54), the community reaction she received when she released the article (13:43), and the other effects that international students are experiencing that we might not necessarily understand but should try too in order to find the correct solutions (15:54). Afterward, Sapreet and Rumneek go in depth regarding the challenges Punjabi international students face, and the responsibilities the Gurdwara had to shoulder (18:56), the stigma that the South Asian communities faces and what we can do to break them (23:01), and the responsibility that Canadians carry in order to aid in the cause (26:07). On the tail end of the interview, Rumneek and Sapreet talk about whether employers pressuring these students are from the south Asian community, and the exploitation international students face (31:43), and finally whether the government, along with different universities and colleges are reaching out in trying to resolve the on-going issue (34:24).

International Students Are Dying From Overdoses at an Alarming Rate. But BC’s Government Isn’t Tracking the Problem.