Like many other Seneca students, Naila Mohammed, has been facing serious challenges brought on by the pandemic: job insecurity, financial setbacks and trying to complete schoolwork while sharing a computer with others in the home.

Enrolled in Seneca’s Youth to Postsecondary Education (Y2P) program, Ms. Mohammed had also been working at a hotel, but she was laid off when the pandemic started. She lives with her parents and two sisters –– the family immigrated to Canada from Ghana in 2014 — and all lost their jobs during the pandemic. Ms. Mohammed was eventually called back to work at the hotel, but with significantly reduced hours.

Then her laptop broke.

“I had no income coming in, and I broke my laptop,” she said. “How was I going to do my assignments? I was using my sister’s laptop but she’s also taking online classes, so it was a struggle between us.” She was worrying and trying to find a way to save for a new computer.

Recognizing the threat students are facing of possibly having to leave school because they do not have a computer, Seneca worked with the Peter Gilgan Foundation to immediately provide 10 Y2P students with a $1,000 bursary to purchase a laptop.

The bursary gives students like Ms. Mohammed a chance to stay focused on their education — and it also means they don’t have to choose between spending on their education or meeting their basic necessities, such as groceries and rent.

Recent polling shows that the majority of Seneca students are experiencing financial hardship: 79 per cent of students reported experiencing financial hardship and 59 per cent are no longer able to afford one or more household expense, such as rent, utilities or groceries.

With limited finances, it’s hard for students to purchase a computer. And with learning taking place online, computers are necessary.

“We’re acutely aware of how important access to technology is for student success in the online classroom.” says Luke Gilgan, Manager, Peter Gilgan Foundation. “We didn’t hesitate when Seneca suggested including bursaries for laptops as part of our wider support for the Y2P program. We’re so inspired by students like Ms. Mohammed, and we wish her and her peers every success.”

Many students, like Ms. Mohammed, have been forced into sharing a computer with other family members who are also working and trying to complete schoolwork from home. Additionally, most public spaces where shared computers could be accessed have been closed.

Receiving the bursary means that Ms. Mohammed was able to successfully continue with her studies. She has now completed most of her courses and only has one left before applying to Seneca’s Social Service Worker diploma program — a program she chose to lead her to a career of helping others in our community.

“This bursary motivates me to study harder and pass my classes to start college in January,” she said. “I hope one day I will assist students and the community in reaching their goals the way same this has helped me.”

Y2P is a collaboration between Seneca and the Toronto District School Board to offer a 30-week instructional program at Seneca’s Yorkgate Campus, located in the Jane and Finch community. This project is for young people who are out of school, unemployed, and have expressed a desire to attend college but lack the math and English skills to take the first step. Through the program, students upgrade their education and learn important life skills to help them enter and succeed in postsecondary education, become apprentices or find employment.

Learn more about Y2P

To learn more about how you can support Seneca students, contact us at advancement@senecapolytechnic.ca.