An international student with a unique family tie to this province is trying to find a way to continue calling Newfoundland and Labrador home in the face of MUN’s tuition increases.

The family history of Manuel Velazquez has inspired a book and a documentary.

His ties to Newfoundland date back to 1886 when his ancestor, Bill Downer, left Fogo Island but was shipwrecked in southern Argentina. Downer would go on to build a life in that country.

Velazquez recalls his mom telling stories about “this island in Canada,” and finally in 2017, he had the opportunity to come here and meet his Newfoundland family.

He says as soon as he stepped off the plane he knew he wanted to stay and live here, and so he did; he came here as part of an exchange program in 2018 and ended up completing his high school at Holy Heart.

Velazquez wants to stay for university and build a life here, but MUN’s tuition increases for international students have thrown a wrench into those plans. He calls current tuition rates “non-approachable” for him, with the upcoming increases making it almost “impossible” for him to stay.

Velazquez’s parents in Argentina have been providing money for him to stay, but he says the economic situation in the country has taken a turn making it very difficult for him to continue in the province.

His family in this province has started a Go Fund Me to help with tuition costs.