The Canadian TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has announced the launch of its C$50 million ($36.6 million) TELUS Student Bursary, which will assist students facing financial barriers impacting their ability to enroll in or continue with postsecondary education.

The largest scholarship fund in Canada was created through a C$25 million ($18.3 million) endowment gift from TELUS and a C$25 million ($18.3 million) fundraising commitment from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. Funds will be awarded annually to youth between the ages of 17 and 29 who are accepted into any undergraduate degree or diploma program or attend any Canadian college, university, or polytechnic institute. The program offers scholarships valued at C$5,000 ($3,660) for university students and C$3,000 ($2,220) for college students.

At the start of the 2023–24 school year, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation awarded its first round of scholarships to more than 400 students across the country. Pulling from their own personal experiences, ranging from immigrating to Canada, to navigating the foster-care system and experiencing social injustice, the social impact leaders of tomorrow will be driving climate action, advancing reconciliation, advocating for human rights, and uplifting marginalized communities across the country and around the world.

“In a world rapidly evolving, we cannot afford to leave any youth behind. The TELUS Student Bursary is not just about funding, but about belief in the boundless potential of our youth and the transformative power they hold,” said TELUS Friendly Future Foundation board chair Ashif Mawji. “As the main differentiator of the TELUS Student Bursary, students will commit to undertaking a project that will have a positive social, environmental, or health impact during their studies, helping ensure that every youth has the opportunity to not only get the education they are passionate about, but to also give back in the form of a social impact that they will champion and be self-accountable for.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Joyce Diva)