Desjardins Foundation teams up with the School of the Greats to help kids stay in school
One in six boys doesn’t finish high school in Quebec. For girls, that number is one in ten.1 What’s more, young people who drop out of school are estimated to cost Quebec around 14 billion dollars a year.2 This reality has inspired the Desjardins Foundation to partner with Foundation W. and support its flagship program, School of the Greats.
The partnership is part of the Desjardins Foundation’s ongoing commitment to helping young people succeed in school. The decision isn’t random, either. It’s based on a strong belief in the relevance and efficiency of the model.
“The Desjardins Foundation has decided to support Foundation W. because the organization always shows up when it matters most—like when a young person needs someone to believe in their potential. Education has the power to change the trajectory of a person’s life, and their approach is a testament to that,” says Anick Charbonneau, General Manager of the Desjardins Foundation.
Alisha Wissanji, General Manager of Foundation W. and founder of the School of the Greats, has welcomed this partnership with open arms. Desjardins Foundation’s mission really is beautifully aligned with Foundation W.’s goals. Both organizations are keen to contribute to equal opportunities and academic success,” she says.
Tried and tested
Founded ten years ago, the School of the Greats relies on a simple yet powerful principle: intergenerational mentorship. The approach involves pairing elementary students from underprivileged backgrounds who are struggling in school with post-secondary student volunteers who help them with their homework. Free transportation and breakfast are provided to remove barriers to participation.
Prevention is the real key. “Dropout predictors are already well known. Children from underprivileged backgrounds who struggle with subjects like reading, writing and math are at higher risk of dropping out of high school. That’s why we focus on prevention. We start early, when kids are in elementary school. We do what we can to help them improve their grades and reduce their risk of dropping out once they reach high school,” Alisha explains.
Today the program is available in 38 schools across 12 of Quebec’s 17 administrative regions, and half of the CEGEPs in the province. Foundation W. would like to support up to 100,000 Quebec students per year. They hope to reach this goal within the next few years.
Scientific rigour and lasting change
Unlike other programs, the School of the Greats has adopted a rigorous approach for measuring results. In fact, Foundation W. has been working with independent researchers to study the effects of its approach on both students and mentors.
The results are compelling. Boys from vulnerable backgrounds often improve their grades or perform more consistently, while mentors report feeling more confident, independent and committed to their studies. “Ours is the only program in Canada that compiles rigorous, quantitative data on an annual basis to measure its impacts,” says Alisha.
For the Desjardins Foundation, this rigour is key. Investing in solutions that are proven to bring lasting change is a major priority. “The School of the Greats focuses on kids who are still underserved by other programs, including boys who are at risk of dropping out and young CEGEP students. That makes this partnership even more strategic,” says Anick Charbonneau.
Mobilizing around academic success is a source of inspiration for Alisha Wissanji. “They say it takes a village to raise a child. I like to think it takes a community to help a child dream big and succeed. Seeing everyone rally around this initiative warms my heart. These are our children. They’re the future. They’re the leaders of tomorrow.”
For more information
Visit the Desjardins Foundation website.
Learn more about Foundation W.
1 Sorties sans diplôme ni qualifications au secondaire (in French only), Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec.
2 Back to School | RAP Côte-Nord, Réussite Accomplissement Persévérance Côte-Nord.