Two UPEI projects receive funding from Government of PEI’s Gender, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Enhancement Program
Twenty-seven community organizations received a total of $657,453 through the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Gender, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (GEDI), and Community Enhancement Program to support healthier, more inclusive, diverse communities across PEI. Two of those recipients were the UPEI Experiential Education Department and the UPEI Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre.
The UPEI Experiential Education Department received $40,000 to provide more equitable support to international UPEI students engaging in work-integrated learning (WIL) programming by contributing matching funds for international students where opportunities are currently only available to domestic students.
“We often see international students being left out from valuable career development opportunities because they aren’t eligible for various funding programs,” said Megan MacLean, Director, Experiential Education and English Language Centre. “This funding will go a long way to creating equitable opportunities for international students and reduce barriers to them participating in work-integrated learning. We have such a valuable resource in our international students and want to connect them to the community in meaningful ways.”
The UPEI Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre received $7,500 for their Indigenous student ceremony bursary to cover costs associated with Indigenous UPEI students attending and participating in ceremonies. It is also meant to help people connect with culture, allowing the Centre to put on workshops and connect students with elders and knowledge keepers.
“Post-secondary education provides individuals with the opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships and embark on a journey of self-discovery through these connections,” said coordinator Jasmine Pauzé. “The ‘Engaging with Culture’ bursary enables students to forge connections with their Indigenous cultures without the burden of financial constraints. We are honoured and enthusiastic about our ongoing commitment to enriching and elevating individuals’ cultural experiences at UPEI.”
