Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today the official launch of a federal student grants program that rewards eligible students up to $5,000 for volunteering in their communities in the fight against COVID-19.
According to the government’s website, registered students and recent graduates that help by volunteering with a local community organization or charity will receive $1,000 in grants toward their post-secondary education for every 100 hours worked, up to a maximum of $5,000 for 500 hours of service. The opportunities can be in-person or virtual, meaning that students can still qualify for doing volunteer work remotely from their home.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, First Nations, Metis or Inuit aged 30 years old or younger. You must be aged 30 or under as of December 31, 2020.
- Be enrolled part time or full time in a recognized post-secondary education program in Spring/Summer 2020 or Fall 2020, or have completed your post-secondary studies in December 2019 or later.
For further eligibility information, a list of available volunteer opportunities and to apply, click here.
Application is also open to students and recent graduates who are employed, and those who are receiving the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) or a microgrant from the Canada Service Corps program. Students who study abroad are also eligible, but they must be currently living in Canada.
*Note: If you are receiving the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), you are not eligible.
If you are a registered student already volunteering for a charity or non-profit organization, the organization that you’re volunteering with can submit the opportunity for approval before August 21, 2020 — as long as it meets all of the federal government’s requirements.
