Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes Offers Cash Grant to Women Seeking Financial Assistance for Educational or Training Expenses
Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and need financial assistance to continue their education or receive training can apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. Applications are made online at the LYDA portal at https://apply.soroptimist.org/. The application portal is open from August 15 to November 15, 2024.
The Kawartha Lakes club will provide up to 3 awards. The first-place recipient will receive $2,000 and will advance to the Soroptimist Eastern Canada Region level, where a recipient from clubs in the region could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates at the Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation level with three finalist awards of $10,000 USD.
Recipients can use the LYDA funds to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This includes tuition, books, childcare, transportation or any other education-related expense. 2024 first-place recipient Carrie B of Lindsay said the $2,000 award “will pay for most of my tuition next semester as I’ve been struggling even with groceries”. A mother of two, Carrie is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Women’s/Gender Studies at Trent University.
Eligible applicants are women who:
Provide the primary financial support for herself and her dependents. Dependents can include children, spouse, partner, siblings and/or parents.
Has financial need.
Is enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program, high school equivalency or an undergraduate degree program.
Resides in Ontario.
Has not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity or Live Your Dream Award.
Does not have a graduate degree.
Is not a Soroptimist member, an employee of Soroptimist International of the Americas or immediate family of either.
Additional information is available at www.sikawarthalakes.org or by contacting Carolyn LaPorte, LYDA Chair at soroptimist.kawarthalakes@gmail.com.
