Youth Education Bursary Applications
Many of you already know that the idea behind The Federation’s Youth Education Bursary actually came from Federation members, not the board of directors or staff team. But what you may not know is that the creation of the bursary was inspired by two different, but related intentions that still exist today.
The primary and most obvious goal of the bursary is to support young people in care who want to pursue post-secondary education. Kids in care don’t get to experience many of the things that other kids do and our members wanted to make sure post-secondary education wasn’t one of those things they missed out on.
The other, more long-term goal was to create an entry point for a new generation of caregivers and practitioners who fully understand the issues we’re all facing—to welcome them into our sector with support and with love, to see their potential and to help them reach it. Our sector had (and still has) a tough time recruiting people into this work. The bursary remains an intentional, compassionate way of supporting and empowering our future colleagues.
Applications open now
Bursary application forms (and a link to other resources for young people) are available on our website. The deadline to apply is May 8, 2020. Please share this information with the young people in your life and with other colleagues who help support BC’s youth in care.
Our bursary committee members are continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier and more accessible. But perhaps the best way to make the application less scary for a young person is to have a kind, caring adult work on it with them. So please offer your help to anyone completing the application.
Help spread the word
This year, help us raise awareness about the Youth Education Bursary by printing and displaying this poster in your office or staff room or online [PDF]. Spread the word among your networks and pass on information to youth in care, people who work with youth in care, and former youth in care. (We have expanded the bursary’s eligibility to include young adults up to the age of 30.)
In closing, I want to sincerely thank all of our members for their ongoing support of this important and meaningful program—thank you!
Rick FitzZaland
Executive Director