The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton has opened applications for the 2024 Hazel Education Bursary in support of the educational advancement of women who have experienced gender-based violence.
The organization’s board of directors, through its education awards committee and supported by community donors, is distributing two bursaries of $1,500 and two bursaries of $2,500 to women residing in the city and county of Peterborough and Haliburton County.
Applications are open until Thursday, April 18th to women who have experienced barriers related to the impact of violence and abuse, have a dream to strengthen their economic security, and seek to further develop their formal or informal education or training.
Funding from the bursary can be used towards a range of educational pursuits from post-secondary programs and classes to skill enhancement, career training, and more. Women who have applied to or received the bursary in previous years are welcome to apply again.
“Many survivors have not had the opportunity to obtain an education or specialized training due to poverty, raising children, and/or controlling behaviours in the abusive situation,” says Emily Jensen, executive assistant at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “These skills are essential in achieving their goals to start or re-start their careers and achieve independence.”
The YWCA awards the bursary in honour of a local woman who, while fighting cancer, removed herself and her three children from what her daughter describes as “a life of domination and violence,” and later used her experiences to help other women in similar circumstances. Hazel passed away in 1996 after a long battle with breast cancer, and the fund was created in 1998 by friends and admirers to carry on her vision.
“When people met the strength of this smiling, laughing woman little did they know their lives would be enriched by her knowledge and life experiences,” writes Hazel’s daughter in a message on the YWCA website. “Mum believed that everyone deserves a chance and that chances should be made possible.”
In 2021, the YWCA merged the longstanding YWCA Hazel Education Award and the YWCA Long Term Education Award, which was established in 2016, into the Hazel Education Bursary to simplify the application process for women whether their educational dream is a course, a diploma, or a degree program.
Every year since, the YWCA has opened applications for the Hazel Education Bursary on International Women’s Day. To honour Hazel’s own request, women from rural communities are given special consideration for the bursary award.
“Hazel was committed to raising awareness on issues women from rural communities face,” says Jensen. “(These women) face unique challenges in getting help largely due to isolation and lack of transportation.”
Jensen further notes that women in rural or remote communities are additionally distanced from the support systems of friends and family, may have reduced access to phone connection and internet access, and could be at risk of firearms danger if living on a farm or with hunters.
“In many small towns, there is also the sense of ‘everyone knows each other’ which can make reaching out for help particularly intimidating,” Jensen adds, “even more so when children are involved.”
By providing a means to overcome the economic barriers, the Hazel Education Bursary is intended to reduce this intimidation and make it easier for survivors to seek independence.
“Economic security and a sense of personal mastery are important pieces in moving forward,” says Jensen. “The goal of the Hazel Education Bursary is to help women on this journey.”
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton assures that all applicant personal information is kept confidential and applicant names are not shared with committee members.
Apply to the Hazel Education Bursary by visiting ywcapeterborough.org/education or learn more by contacting Emily Jensen at 705-743-3526 ext. 120 or ejensen@ywcapeterborough.org.
