The annual Storwell bursary for foster children returns as students head back to class.

In Canada right now, there are about 63,000 youth in the foster care system. There are also another 235,000 who have been identified as having experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, abuse, and neglect.

These young people face difficulties getting higher education, with the biggest barrier being of the financial sort.

To aid those in overcoming this roadblock to success, Storwell Self Storage created the annual Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program.

“Completing a post-secondary degree is incredibly important in this day and age, it can help open avenues in your career that are not available with a high school diploma alone. However, post-secondary school can also be a tremendous financial burden. For foster children and youth in care, this financial burden can be so great that it stops them from pursuing their post-secondary education altogether,” said Joseph Dinesh, strategic communications specialist with Storwell.

Launched in 2012, Dinesh says the program is unique because it helps a group that is often overlooked.

“What makes this bursary unique is that it aims to help foster children and youth in care, a demographic that is largely overlooked. As children age out of the foster care system they receive less and less support while continuing to struggle through their own unique set of challenges. The Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program looks to help these children from across Canada achieve their educational goals and build a better life for themselves.”

To qualify for the bursary, students must have been a foster child with an official Canadian or American foster care program, be enrolled as a full-time student at a recognized general/ vocational college or post-secondary institution in Canada or the U.S. as of September, be a Canadian or American Citizen or permanent resident, be 24 years of age or less at the time of application, and agrees to have their name, photo and post-secondary institution displayed on the Storwell website.

Applications for the bursary close Sept. 1, 2022. Dinesh notes that applications received after the cut-off date will be held in consideration for next year.

The winner of the 2022 bursary is expected to be announced in early October.

To apply visit www.storwell.com/bursary-application. Those applying must also email a copy of their most recent academic transcript and proof of citizenship to awards@storwell.com.