May 2020

Hello Wong's Youth Organization Members, 

Given these uncertain times I thought I would take the opportunity to reach out and offer some information about opportunities and aid for students who may be in need. 

The government of Canada has opened up several financial aid opportunities for students, and everyone here at WYO is doing the best we can to support you. 

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB): 

The CESB is a benefit to support students and recent grads not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or Employment Insurance or unable to work given the current situation with COVID- 19. 

The benefit can provide between $1250 and $1750. $1250 will be granted to eligible students, and $1750 will be granted to eligible students with dependents or disabilities. 

The benefit would become available from May to August of this year. The benefit is still pending passage. More details will be made available by the government soon. 

For more information (& the source of this info) please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/department- finance/economic-response-plan.html 

Creating New Jobs and Employment: 

The Canadian government has committed to creating new jobs and opportunities through federal programs. Approximately 116000 jobs and new opportunities will be created to benefit students in the coming months and the summer of 2020. 

For more information (& the source of this info) please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/department- finance/economic-response-plan.html 

Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG): 

The government of Canada is launching a Canada Student Service Grant. For students who chose to do national service and serve their communities the CSSG will provide up to $5000 towards their education for fall of 2020. 

More details soon will become available through the "I Want to Help" platform. 

For more information (& the source of this info) please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/department- finance/economic-response-plan.html 

Changes to the Process of Paying and Receiving Student Loans: 

The government of Canada has created new programs and legislation surrounding the granting and repayment of student loans (OSAP). For more details about how this may affect you please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html. 

Some of these changes include all student loan borrowers automatically having their loan repayments and interested suspended until September 30, 2020. This benefit does not need to be applied for and only applies to the federal portion of student loans. 

OSAP is Ontario’s flagship student support program, offering a mix of grants and loans to thousands of students each year. OSAP continues to be available for Canadian students. 

Mental Health Services and Resources: 

During this stressful time we all may need some additional support. Kids Help Phone offers a safe space to discuss how you are feeling. WYO encourages you to take care of yourself amidst this uncertainty. If you wish to reach out to Kids Help Phone you can reach them at: 

https://kidshelpphone.ca 

Text CONNECT to 686868 

1-800-668-6868 

The Kids Help Phone Website provides more information about mental health, and resources near you or available to you. Please see the link above. 

WYO Scholarships: 

WYO wants to do everything they can to support members. We also greatly value education. As such, we will be increasing the monetary value of our 2020 scholarships. Additional information will be available soon so please keep in touch. 

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out via the WYO email address: wongsyouth@gmail.com 

Additional Scholarships: 

Lots of scholarships are available to Canadian students to help support you and your education. 

One scholarship available to Chinese-Canadian students are the Jean Lumb Foundation scholarships. More info can be found here: https://jeanlumbfoundation.ca/?page_id=6232 

You can apply to the Jean Lumb Foundation Scholarship here: https://jeanlumbfoundation.ca/?page_id=5619 

15 scholarships are available to high school students of Chinese heritage. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time). 

Find out about other scholarships and bursaries through: 

o StudentAward$ o ScholarshipsCanada.com 

o Graduate Students: you can apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship or the Queen Elizabeth 

II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology at your school’s graduate office. You can even get $5,000 per term, to a maximum of $15,000 for an academic year. 

There are many hidden scholarships available for students. 

Many universities offer entrance scholarships to students with high grades coming from high school (and possibly year-to-year within the university). Some universities (like UWO) apply these scholarships automatically, however some require you to apply. 

Universities also often give scholarships for high achievement in a specific course, dedication to special interests, or for high levels of community involvement. Look into what is available on your campus or future campus. 

Financial Aid From Schools: 

You can check with a college or university directly to see what financial aid programs they offer. You could be eligible for: 

o Bursaries o Scholarships o Work-study programs o Summer employment opportunities These are all sources of money you don’t have to pay back. 

Emergency Loans 

Most schools also offer emergency loans. For example, you could be eligible for a short-term loan (90 days) to cover tuition, if you’re waiting for OSAP to arrive. Start with your financial aid office to learn what is available. 

Bank Loans 

Banks, trust companies and credit unions offer student loans and lines of credit. Talk to your financial institution for information. 

If you have any questions about any of the information provided above please reach out to wongsyouth@gmail.com. We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy.