My name is Delfina Lara Cabanes, and I am standing for the role of International Students’ Community Leader.

I am currently in my second year of the undergraduate course of law. Previous to that I studied the international foundation year at Leeds Beckett University.

I believe I am the best person for the role as I am a melting pot of cultures myself. I was originally born in Argentina in South America, then I was raised in Spain in Europe, to later on migrate to Bahrain in the Middle East and have been living there for the past ten years.

By having relocated throughout the years I have broadened my understanding of diverse cultures. Therefore, I can personally relate to any international students at Leeds Beckett University.

I have never been fond of unfairness, and I believe it is my duty to stand up for what is right and ensure people are treated with respect and equality. Therefore, in order to do so I joined the student council in High School, as well as I have been representing my fellow classmates as a course representative for the past two years, in order to promote fairness and equality.

If I get elected, I intend to improve the international students’ experience at Leeds Beckett University by doing the following:

Make accommodation affordable and accessible for international students:

1. Create a University Guarantor Scheme.
2. Implement a monthly installments system to pay rent at university accommodations.
3. Reinstate the rent deposit scheme, which is to be separate from the hardship fund, as well as to promote it well enough.

Make tuition fees affordable:

1. Implement a multiple installments system to pay tuition fees for international students, like the one in place for UK students.
2. Improve the scholarships offered to international students.
3. Inform students of other scholarships and student loans available outside the university.

Provide better mental health care for students:

1. Provide students with information to a wide variety of available therapist in Leeds.
2. Improve the support available for students’ wellbeing at university, as well as to inform students of its existence.

Help students with their spiritual beliefs:

1. Provide students with information to a wide variety of places of worship in Leeds.
2. Improve the prayer rooms in university, as well as to inform students of its existence.

Improve the socialisation of the international students:

1. Promote better the communities at university, as well as the global village and their events.
2. Work with the international students’ community and the global village, in order to improve and create a more inclusive group, as well as to ensure there are more recurrent events.
3. Additionally make sure to appreciate and celebrate all the cultures in the university.

Improve resources available at university:

1. Create a system to allow students to obtain books from the library even if they are in a different country.