The Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program Offers $2,000 to Help Former Foster Children Achieve their Educational Goals

According to the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, right now there are approximately 63,000 Canadian children living in permanent care with foster families, extended family, or in group homes. Many of these children and youth often experience difficulties gaining access to adequate education opportunities from an early age, especially when it comes to post-secondary education. A study done in 2017 by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth found that 56% of Ontario Crown Wards end up dropping out of high school.

Along with providing easily accessible and affordable self storage, Storwell is also devoted to helping out the local community through various social initiatives. In response to the growing number of foster children and youth in care that struggle to afford post-secondary studies, Storwell has developed the Foster Children Bursary Program. The aim of the bursary program is to provide foster children and youth in care with resources and opportunities that might be otherwise unavailable to them.

Many young people leaving foster care do not have the same educational and employment opportunities as their contemporaries, leading to an employment rate 20% less than their peers. This lack of formal employment contributes to the risk of homelessness. Without a stable source of income, some former foster youth struggle with food security and long-term housing stability.

With the proper tools and opportunities, these students can overcome their struggles and work towards building a better life for themselves through the pursuit of higher education. Storwell offers an annual bursary of $2,000 to help foster children attend post-secondary schools and to offer a hand up as they make their way forward in life. Eligibility requirements and access to the application form can be found at: https://www.storwell.com/bursary-application