Education
Meet our TELUS Student Bursary recipients
Oct 26, 2023
More than 75% of youth find it hard to afford post-secondary education. On October 11, 2023, we were thrilled to announce the launch of our $50 million TELUS Student Bursary, representing the largest bursary fund in Canada. The TELUS Student Bursary, which was created through a $25 million endowment gift from TELUS, along with an additional $25 million fundraising commitment from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation®, will provide vital support for thousands of students experiencing financial barriers who are committed to making a difference in their local communities. This academic year alone, the Foundation has awarded $2 million in bursaries to 400 students across Canada.
Get to know our 2023 TELUS Student Bursary recipients:
- 40% are the first in their family to take part in post-secondary education in Canada
- 70% are from equity-deserving groups
- 20% identify as 2SLGBTQ+
- 29% identify as a youth with a disability
Meet a few of our resilient, community-minded changemakers receiving a TELUS Student Bursary.
Nebiyou
Nebiyou
Post-secondary institution: York University
Studying: criminology and business
Goal: Become a lawyer and advocate for social justice
Studying: criminology and business
Goal: Become a lawyer and advocate for social justice
“As someone who escaped a challenging life, I understand what it's like to feel voiceless. I come from a dark past as I've faced hardships in Ethiopia, lost loved ones in the Yemen war, lived in a shelter and encountered numerous obstacles. I'm dedicated to advocating for social justice and being a voice for the neglected. I founded community projects like Brothers4Brothers, mentoring young males on mental health and healing, and Teens4Change, providing clothing and food to the homeless.”
Clementine
Post-secondary institution: Carleton University
Studying: human rights, social justice and feminist studies
Goal: Reform the foster care system
Studying: human rights, social justice and feminist studies
Goal: Reform the foster care system
“As someone who grew up in the foster care system, it’s been really hard to pursue my dream of going to university. I’ve learned - and seen through my own experience - that only eight out of every 1,000 Canadian kids in foster care will graduate with any kind of post-secondary degree. I truly believe that with the support from TELUS and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, I will not only have the resources to graduate, but will also be able to improve those odds for other kids in the future as I hope to work on redeveloping the child welfare system.”
Jolie
Jolie
Post-secondary institution: University of Toronto
Studying: political science and global health
Goal: Advocate for women’s rights to equitable healthcare around the world, and expand the nonprofit she founded
Studying: political science and global health
Goal: Advocate for women’s rights to equitable healthcare around the world, and expand the nonprofit she founded
“Over the past five years, I founded and scaled my own nonprofit organization – the Cycle of Giving – that runs 20+ donation drives across North America annually to bring in over 12,000 menstrual products for Indigenous women in communities across Southeast Asia. Our team has grown to over 60 members around the world of all ages and experiences. The TELUS Student Bursary will greatly reduce the number of hours I need to work to cover my tuition and living expenses. It will allow me to spend more time caring for my mother when she needs me most, and reduce an enormous additional stress-inducing factor from my life. Most importantly, it will also allow me to focus on building and scaling the Cycle of Giving to reach exponentially more women in need."
Alain
Alain
Post-secondary institution: University of Alberta
Studying: history, economics and philosophy
Goal: Create inclusive communities for immigrant youth
Studying: history, economics and philosophy
Goal: Create inclusive communities for immigrant youth
“I currently volunteer in the immigrant community and advocate for youth, refugee, and immigrant-related favourable policies in Edmonton. I viscerally understand the danger that immigrant youth experience integrating into a novel community that structurally pushes them to the side. I see the change in my community occurring from the top. From governments and local communities moving arguments and initiatives that center immigrant youth. Receiving this bursary brings me closer to realizing my dream of more closely interacting with local and international immigration policy.”
Tiya
Tiya
Post-secondary institution: UBC Okanagan
Studying: Indigenous studies
Goal: Become a teacher and support cultural and language revitalization
Studying: Indigenous studies
Goal: Become a teacher and support cultural and language revitalization
“I hope to teach future generations of First Nations youth and show them that we are valued and we will heal as a community. I want to honour my ancestors and remaining language speakers by becoming one of the few Okanagan language speakers. My ultimate goal is to someday become a Nsyilxcen language speaker, knowledge keeper, and educator.”
Join us in supporting the changemakers of tomorrow, today.
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