Venezuelan Mom, Three Children, Studying At Georgian College

Moved to escape gunfire in homeland

Yolanda Bethencourt is smiling again. The Venezuelan woman didn’t like the sounds of gunfire outside the university her son was attending in her homeland so she found a place for him at Georgian College in Barrie, then worked to get her other son and daughter in as well. Jesus is studying Computer Systems Technician – Networking; Miguel is in Civil Engineering Technology; and Carolina is enrolled in Culinary Management. All three are so dedicated to their studies that each maintains top academic standing on the Dean’s List. And now, after upgrading her English, Yolanda is studying there, too – in the Hospitality and Tourism Program. She also ran for election and is now a director on the College Students’ Association.

photo: Yolanda Bethencourt, centre, with her children Miguel and Carolina via Georgian College