CHANGE A LIFE
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
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
When Emilianna’s roommate moved out during COVID-19, she was left to cover the full cost of her rent. The comedy club she worked at also closed at the same time. As a former youth in government care who is now studying Social Work at Douglas College, Emilianna doesn’t have the safety net of her parents
Hundreds of B.C. youth formerly in government care are receiving money when they need it most, thanks to the Youth Futures Education Fund. This year 811 former youth in care are eligible to receive funds while they pursue their post-secondary education. The funds help them pay for part of their living expenses while they study,
United Way British Columbia is investing an additional $150,000 in the Youth Futures Education Fund, so more B.C. youth who have aged out of foster care can thrive at school – and in life. When starting college or university, most young people have support from their families to cover living expenses like rent, food and