Toronto, ON — Through its ScotiaRISE initiative, Scotiabank has announced it is donating $900,000 over three years to Habitat for Humanity Canada’s Every Youth Initiative, a program designed to help support youth get hands-on experience as they build Habitat homes.
“Scotiabank’s generous support of the Every Youth Initiative will help us grow this program across Canada to reach more youth who will benefit from learning real-world skills on a Habitat build site or in a Habitat ReStore,” said Julia Deans, Habitat Canada’s president and CEO.
While in the Every Youth Initiative program, youths can gain access to educational experiences, which can help them gain exposure to the skilled trades. In addition, participants in the program are able to learn and gain experience under community and educational organizations while building homes for families in need.
Beginning in 2017, the Every Youth Initiative program has featured more than 4,000 youth. In addition, participants in the program earned a total of 159,000 volunteer hours that could be applied to school credits, high school diplomas, or apprenticeships.
“Habitat Canada’s Every Youth Initiative is uniquely positioned to help youth gain the skills and experience they might need. Scotiabank is proud to partner with Habitat Canada to help young people reach their employment goals,” said Maria Saros, vice president and global head, community investment strategy and communications at Scotiabank.