Vital support for students pursuing higher education – 2021/22 Annual Report
Youth who have transitioned to adulthood from government care and are pursuing post-secondary education are vital to the future of our community. Helping these students to achieve their goals benefits everyone. That is why it’s so critical that youth are supported through this important life-stage. In 2021/22, a total of 492 students received financial support […]
Province of British Columbia invests $250,000 in Youth Futures Education Fund
Every year, over 800 youth transition out of government care. Many dream of pursuing post-secondary education but that goal often seems unattainable without proper supports. While BC’s Tuition Waiver Program covers tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students attending one of 25 public post-secondary institutions, the Native Education College or 10 Union Institutes across British […]
Fueling a creative future
Acting, music, writing, digital art and animation: if it involves creativity, Star is all-in! It started back in Grade 3 when she picked up a pen, wanting to be a novelist. “I’ve always been a big creative,” says the 26-year-old Burnaby resident. Currently, she is working on her reel, a video resume of her skills […]
Youth Futures disburses $600,000 to youth aging into community
Twenty-one-year-old Simranjit – Sim – has her sights set on a PhD in psychology. Her courage, support from helpful high school guidance counsellors and the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF), which provides support for basic living expenses like food, rent and internet, mean she’s on her way to success. “Psychology sparked my interest because I have a […]
A passion for education and life helps build art therapy career
Twenty-seven-year-old Sage is a Ceramics student at Selkirk College’s Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson in Southeastern BC. As a former youth in care, she held off pursuing post-secondary education for many years. “When it came to college and university, I kind of freaked out. School is so expensive, it didn’t seem like a realistic option for me,” she says. Along with […]
On track for success – United Way invests unprecedented $350K to support youth
Nineteen-year-old Jodi loves school. She’s learning new things, meeting new people and planning for a bright future as she pursues her degree through the Child and Youth Care program at Douglas College in New Westminster. It was something that was almost unimaginable for her as a child. “I knew when we had no food. I […]