Bursaries for 18 to 30 year-olds

Objective

This program is for young people ages 18 to 30 who live in Quebec or Ontario, and who are members of a Desjardins caisse in Quebec or a caisse populaire in Ontario and wish to:

• take technical, professional, art or refresher courses;
• take non-university courses;
• acquire instructional or professional equipment;
• carry out a personal project, particularly with a view to acquiring new skills;
• acquire international experience that provides benefits to Canada¹.

Registration period: September 10 to November 10, 2009

Apply for this bursary

Bursaries available

Eighty $750 bursaries will be awarded, for a total of $60,000.

Application instructions

Only applicants who have filled out the form will be considered.

• Fill out the bursary application form legibly, on the computer or in black ink.
• In your own words, write a one-page letter to convince the jury of the quality of your application.
• Read the application guide at the bottom of this page.
• Print out an original and make 1 photocopy (the Fondation suggests that you make double-sided photocopies to save paper).
• Include 2 copies of each required supporting document, if available.
• Forward the application package to the Fondation within the appropriate time period.

Candidates with permanent resident status must:

• enclose a photocopy of their permanent resident card;
• if they have not yet studied in Canada, provide documents showing equivalent studies in their country of origin;
• attach a page describing:
  • their integration objectives in Quebec or Ontario (academic, economic, family, social and regional);
  • what they have already done to reach these objectives;
  • the way in which they are experiencing their adaptation to the university (new pedagogical approach), the climate, and Quebec or Ontario culture;
  • what they have already done to facilitate their integration into their new environment.

To collect a bursary, recipients must:

• (Quebec residents) be a Desjardins caisse member or agree to become one
• (Ontario residents) be a member of an Ontario caisse populaire

Documents required

Applicants must enclose a certificate of enrolment in an educational institution or a copy of all receipts for purchased equipment and project-related expenses.

If this requirement is not met at the time the bursary is awarded in March, the applicant will have 6 months (until September 30) to provide receipts of proof of expenses.

	By mail	Read the application guide (PDF, 29 KB). Fill out the Raymond-Blais Bursaries for Young People application form (PDF, 134 KB) and mail along with the required documents to the following address: Fondation Desjardins 1, complexe Desjardins C.P. 7, succursale Desjardins Montréal (Québec) H5B 1B2

Checking your application status

Bursary applications postmarked after this time will not be accepted. No acknowledgement will be sent, but candidates will receive a reply during the month of February. Prizes are awarded in March.

1. Humanitarian projects are accepted only if part of a qualifying training program, such as a nursing or educational technical training program.