End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Taking Action
Initiatives at Brock University
At Brock University, there are many resources available to students who do not have financial security and require additional aid.
Brock University’s Financial Need Assessment Policy outlines that the University has funds available to help students who experience financial difficulty, with Bursaries being available for students who exhibit financial need. These initiatives are intended to supplement educational resources such as government student loans, employment earnings, scholarships, externally administered bursaries, and family contributions.
Recently, Brock has begun to increase its efforts to provide financial assistance to traditionally underrepresented groups and underprivileged nations. One example is Brock’s increased emphasis on Scholarship & Award opportunities for First Nations students who do not have access to funding through their Band Council. Brock is excited to offer the new Chancellor’s First Nations Award annually to one student coming directly from high school, who is First Nations and has a high level of academic standing.
The Caribbean International Scholarship – Awarded to two first year undergraduate students who show academic promise and require financial need. Applicable countries: Cuba; Haiti; Dominican Republic; Jamaica; Trinidad & Tobago; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Bahamas; Barbados; Saint Lucia; Curacao; Aruba; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Grenada; Antigua and Barbuda; Dominica; Cayman Islands; Saint Kitts & Nevis; Saint Maarten; Turks & Caicos Islands; Saint Martin; British Virgin Islands; Caribbean Netherlands; Anguilla; Saint Barthelemy and Montserrat
The Daughters for Life (DFL) Scholarships are led by Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian physician and renowned peace activist who created the organization after three of his daughters were killed by tank shells in Gaza in 2009. Abuelaish was given an honorary doctorate from Brock in 2016. Brock continues to grow its connection with DFL by funding scholarships for one master’s and one PhD student, which started in 2018. These scholarships provide women who face socio-economic hardships in challenging regions in the Middle East with an opportunity for higher education.
WUSC (World University Services of Canada) Student Refugee Program – The Student Refugee Program has been helping young refugees achieve their dreams, providing hope, resources and access to post-secondary education. Each year, Brock students sponsor a student refugee via the World University Services of Canada levy.
Brock’s United Way Campaign is an annual employee workplace fundraising campaign which hopes to make life better for everyone in the local community through addressing issues such as poverty, food insecurity and homelessness. This initiative may enhance the life and vitality of the local community.
In collaboration with thousands of non-profit and charitable organizations celebrating Giving Tuesday, Brock University took a global movement to encourage people to volunteer and support causes close to their hearts. The initiative demonstrates that supporting students is at the heart of the generosity of our donors, many of whom are alumni, staff and faculty.
Initiatives in the Niagara Region
Hostels and Homelessness Prevention
Niagara Region offers a list of local housing programs and services. They focus on emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, outreach to unsheltered homelessness, supportive housing programs, action plan, and community safety and well-being plan.
Niagara Region’s Homelessness Services funds a collaborative, region-wide street outreach program called Niagara Assertive Street Outreach, which is an evidence–based housing-focused program that engages with people sleeping rough to create pathways into housing, provides standardized intake, triage and assessment to measure a person’s vulnerability and help to identify appropriate housing resources and more.
LEAP Program
The Learning, Earning, and Parenting (LEAP) program aims to help young parents to graduate high school, develop parenting skills, and access employment resources and supports to obtain sustainable employment.
Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance can be granted to those that experience detrimental health or well-being challenges. The program provides them and/or their families with immediate financial or shelter aid.
Individual Actions
While large organizations such as Brock University have created initiatives to help the less fortunate; it is also important to consider the impact that a single individual can have.
- Buy from Living Wage Employers that understand the cost of living is higher than minimum wage.
- Donate what you can to people or charities that inspire you.
- Acknowledge, smile, and if possible, give to people on the streets.
- An apple, bottled water, or change can make a difference.
- Set up charitable donation links on social media for your birthday.
- Look out for companies that donate a portion of their sales to charities.
- Buy fair-trade products – all employees should be rewarded fairly for work.
- Discuss poverty and bring attention to the issue with friends and family.
- Sponsor a child because they deserve food, education and health.
- Think about teaching a skill free of charge in a community centre.
- E.g., computer skills or building a resume.
- Volunteer your time to help others.
- Your time could be more valuable than money in a homeless shelter.
- Reach out to the Shoe Box program, Women’s Place of South Niagara, Gillian’s Place, Start me up Niagara, and others to see what they need most.
