Helping youth achieve their full potential means a brighter, better future for everyone. By valuing all young people’s unique attributes and perspectives, we can more effectively address the issues facing our communities and celebrate our collective and individual strengths and contributions. Supporting the vital role youth who have been in BC government care or in the care of a Delegated Aboriginal Agency (DAA) play in our province’s future as they pursue post-secondary studies is the work of the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF).
Annually, the YFEF provides over 400 former youth in care, who are on tuition waiver programs in public institutions, with basic living expenses for rent, food, school supplies and, this past year, support for COVID-related emergencies.
“Supporting young people who are aging into community to pursue their post-secondary education through the Youth Futures Education Fund isn’t just the right thing to do; it means we all succeed,” says Maureen Young, Chair of the Youth Futures Education Fund Advisory Committee. “Because of these youths’ knowledge, talents and perspective, our communities and workplaces are more vibrant, inclusive and equitable and that makes for a better world for all of us.”
The 2019-20 YFEF Annual Report highlights the successes of this critical program including:
- Indigenous student participation reaches 30%
- Women represent 71% of fund recipients
- Over $500,000 raised and distributed to those in need
The fund was collaboratively established by: Coast Capital, The Province of British Columbia, and the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth. The Youth Futures Education Fund is guided by an Advisory Committee, held at the Vancouver Foundation and is administered by United Way of the Lower Mainland.