EMPOWERING CANADIAN STUDENTS TO CREATE GLOBAL CHANGE

Lack of poverty-focussed STEM opportunities in Canada

From global trade, to international development, to foreign aid, Canada has long been seen as a change leader on the global stage. In an increasingly globalized world, Canadians continue to search for ways that we can generate positive global impact - mobilizing our resources to change the lives of those who need it most. As of the most recent census, 73% of Canadians between the ages of 25-34 had earned a post-secondary qualification - making Canadian youth some of the most educated in the world. (Youth and Education in Canada, 2021) This level of youth education, combined with Canada’s level of development, creates the space and opportunity for Canadian youth to become global leaders in creating lasting solutions to poverty-related issues.

Background

Canada has solidified our position as a global science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leader, with the national demand for these careers continuing to rise. (Government of Canada, 2021). Today, nearly one quarter of Canadian university students are enrolled in STEM fields (Statistics Canada, 2020), though the rates of graduation and employment from STEM programs are significantly lower. To meet not only the increased need for STEM professionals, but also continue to propel Canada as an international leader in aid and development, we must invest in the education and mentorship of young leaders. The Leadership Summit Series will address these challenges by encouraging the participating Canadian students to continue to pursue education in STEM related fields, and exploring how their careers can be used to create impact on poverty-related issues. Though a highly developed country, the poverty rate in Canada is approximately 8% (Statistics Canada, 2022). On a global scale, the poverty rate is slightly higher, sitting at 8.6% (World Bank, 2022). At EWB, we know that providing our young leaders with education and engagement opportunities has the power to influence generational poverty in Canada. In exploring how STEM careers can be used to create impact, the students reached by the Leadership Summit Series will be more likely to use their technical skills for poverty reduction both in Canada, and globally.

The good deed

The Leadership Summit Series will promote the importance of using STEM and innovation to achieve our core mission of poverty reduction. We provide a platform to showcase success stories, host workshops and speakers to inspire innovative thinking surrounding STEM and global poverty. We encourage students to connect to one another's ideas through networking. The series will highlight important issues in STEM and innovation today and relate them to a global lens - encouraging participants to do the same. As a result of this event, students will not only realize that they have the power to enact lasting change in their own lives, and the lives of others through STEM, but also feel empowered to pursue these changes in their future career endeavours.