Toronto, Ontario | May 05, 2023 – TELUS Friendly Future Foundation® has donated $20,000 to contribute towards Afro Canadian Development Inc.’s effort in facilitating easy access to STEM learning sessions for the underprivileged children and youths in Greater Toronto Area.

According to a recent C.D. Howe Institute report (2022), The Knowledge Gap, Canada is experiencing a digital and STEM skills shortage due to rapid digitalization in the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has also escalated the demand for STEM and digital skills and added to the already-established labour shortages. A shortage that endangers both our quality of life and economic competitiveness. This has only ignited the need to invest in increasing youth involvement and fostering their interest in STEM learning from an early age and raising their awareness of STEM-related opportunities when deciding on their future career and educational aspirations.

Apart from that, there are youth populations that are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM fields. These include youth from low-income communities who are marginalized due to their socio-economic situation. One of the major reasons for underrepresentation in the STEM field among these populations includes numerous structural and perceived barriers to meaningful engagement at an early age such as lack of finances to access enriched STEM programs, and inadequate awareness of STEM programs, mentors, and future career opportunities. Given the economic and personal benefits of STEM learning, it is crucial to address the underrepresentation of youth from low-income communities by easing access to enriched STEM sessions and reducing existing barriers.

Afro Canadian Development’s STEM Program delivered in collaboration with MakerKids provides free bi-weekly STEM learning sessions related to Coding, Robotics & Minecraft. This program started in January 2023 and has received great feedback from 60 participating youths and their parents to date. The number of children and youths interested to join the session has been increasing ever since.

“We are immensely grateful for support from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation,” said Emmanuel Animodi, Director at Afro Canadian Development Inc. “More and more children and youths are willing to join these STEM learning sessions and thanks to the foundation, we will be able to continue this program, encouraging and creating pathways for our future innovators,” added Animodi.

With the donation of $20,000 from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, Afro Canadian Development Inc. will now be able to extend the current STEM program till the end of the year. Moreover, it will help us accommodate a larger group of children and youths who have been showing interest to participate in these STEM learning sessions but could not do so because of the existing socio-economic barriers and further extend and facilitate this program to weekly sessions. Not only will this program contribute to fostering interest in the STEM field, but it will also lay a foundation for aspiring children and youths who dream of changing the world through remarkable and transforming innovations.

Please visit www.afrocanadiandevelopment.org for more information on STEM Program and visit www.friendlyfuture.com for more information on TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.

Contact Details

Pratichhya Gurung

Program Coordinator

pratichhya@afrocanadiandevelopment.org

416-638-8525