P&G and Indspire help Indigenous students reach their highest potential
Since 2004, Indspire has invested over $153 million towards the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students through bursaries, scholarships, and awards. This national charity has set a goal to ensure that every Indigenous student will graduate within the next generation.
Among Canada's fastest-growing demographic, almost half of this Indigenous population is under 24 years of age, representing a significant factor in Canada's economic prosperity.
Contrary to popular belief, Indigenous students do not receive full funding for their education. Only 4 out of 10 Indigenous youth living on reserve graduate from grade 12 compared to 9 out of 10 non-Indigenous youth, and 44% of Indigenous people have attained a post-secondary credential compared to 63% of non-Indigenous people.
Lack of finances is the greatest barrier to completing post-secondary education for Indigenous people. Moreover, the Centre for the Study of Living Standards estimates that greater achievement in higher education for Indigenous peoples could increase their annual income by $11,236 by 2031. More work needs to be done.
P&G is a proud supporter of Indspire's Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries & Scholarships Program, which provides financial assistance to Indigenous students. Providing opportunities in education and employment creates confident and innovative minds, an essential part of the growth and development of our communities and businesses that serve them.
The Building Brighter Futures program supports Indigenous students across Canada, like:
Christian Spence attended his first year of law school at the University of Ottawa. With a strong passion for Indigenous, aboriginal, constitutional, and business law, Christian hopes to practice law in an area that strengthens Indigenous economics and social and environmental rights across Canada to help build thriving communities.
Celeste Tookoome-Hill is studying Mohawk at Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa in Six Nations. Celeste is attending a full immersion Mohawk language program. Celeste hopes to revitalize the Mohawk language in Ohsweken and other Mohawk communities by creating more resources in the language.
Alisha Androschuk is a Native Studies major at the University of Alberta. Alisha hopes to pursue a career at a museum or as a librarian, specializing in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit topics and research.
Beyond working with Indspire, P&G is proud to develop partnerships that continue to drive equality and inclusion for Indigenous Peoples. Internally, P&G has committed to ongoing Indigenous employment and workplace inclusion goals and created an Indigenous Professional Network.
If you are an Indigenous student, apply for the Building Brighter Futures program today.
For these efforts and others, P&G has received a Certification Award from Indigenous Works as an Employer of Choice.
In recognition of National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept 30, P&G has installed a permanent land acknowledgement plaque at its Canadian head office. This beautiful plaque was designed by artist Colleen Gray through the Art for Aid Project, an initiative dedicated to providing access to quality art learning tools for Indigenous youth in Canada.
P&G is proud of what has already been accomplished, but recognizes there is more work to be done. Please consider joining P&G and supporting Indspire.