The rising cost of living is forcing a growing number of students to choose between achieving their educational goals and basic living essentials.
To help ease the burden, education savings and planning company Embark Student Corporation is targeting hunger issues for Vancouver Island University students with a gift of $400,000, according to a VIU press release issued Wednesday, March 13.
The $400,000 grant is a portion of $2.7 million going to seven universities across Canada. The money will pay for student-driven research, food security initiatives aimed at meeting immediate needs, cross-campus co-ordination to find sustainable solutions to student hunger, and increased access to emergency funding.
Andrew Lo, Embark president and CEO, said in the press release that the grant program marks a commitment to making the post-secondary pathway easier for Canadians.
“By supporting these innovative programs, we hope to enrich the lives of students and give them the skills they need to thrive both today and in the future,” he said.
At VIU, there will be research awards going to student groups that come up with innovative approaches to address food insecurity. The money will also support VIU Students’ Union’s free breakfast bar and meal voucher program, and the student access fund, a low-barrier program offering financial support for students in crisis. The university will also create food pantries for students in discreet locations on the Nanaimo and Cowichan campuses.
Deborah Saucier, VIU president, thanked Embark Student Corporation for its support.
“We believe the magic of this initiative is in putting students at the heart of the solution, providing valuable hands-on research opportunities as well as immediate and longer-term solutions,” she said.
For more information, visit http://news.viu.ca/embark-student-corp-funds-food-security-initiatives-viu.
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