Education Canada Project #15874

Inspiring Futures: AboutFace Scholarship Program

by AboutFace

Inspiring Futures: AboutFace Scholarship Program

Project Report | Jan 6, 2015
Balancing School and Surgeries

By Emily Rivers | Manager, Communications and Database

Audrey

Youth with a facial difference often require extensive dental and medical procedures. Many of these take place during their adolescence which consequently means that youth have to spend time away from school and their peers to make various appointments and often require some recovery time after surgeries. This can make it difficult for them to keep on top of their studies and with challenging curriculums it is easy for students to fall behind on their coursework. It also makes it challenging to commit to extracurricular activities which is often expected for other scholarships. It also means time away from friends and peers which adds another element of challenge for our youth. We want to support them in their academic endeavours while recognizing the challenges they might face.

While some of the associated costs with having a facial difference are covered by healthcare there are significant financial obligations that are not covered. This includes time off work (youth and parents) to attend various appointments, in face many of our youth are also unable to maintain their own job, due to surgeries and recovery times. There are also the added costs of travel, accommodation, childcare for sibling…these extra financial burdens are rarely recognized and placed on the youth’s family to cover. By providing some financial support for education youth have a better chance of being successful during their post secondary education.

Links:

Read about our most recent scholarship winners

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Sep 24, 2014
Meet AboutFace Scholarship Winner Hayley!

By Hayley H. | AboutFace Member and Volunteer

Hayley's high school graduation

"My involvement with AboutFace and SickKids Hospital have both played a huge part in the development of my character and my future career ambitions. I became a patient at SickKids Hospital soon after birth, as I was born with Bilateral Microtia and slight Goldenhar Syndrome. I've had multiple surgeries for my hearing aid (bone anchored hearing aid) and to have my jaw reconstructed (at SickKids Hospital). As I have spent so much time as this hospital, as well as so many of my close friends and family members, I have been inspired to devote as much of myself as I can to give back. I have just completed my first year on the SickKids Council, and got a volunteer position at the hospital for the full month of July. I am incredibly excited about volunteering at the hospital every morning in July as this will be my first experience in the career I hope to have when I am older. I hope that with my past experiences, I am able to find the right ways to help the children at the hospital and inspire them to push on and stay strong. Along with this, I will be working towards my goal career of being a child life specialist (dream job at SickKids Hospital), where I can hopefully inspire and help patients, as well as hopefully provide the same comfort, friendship and trust I received from my child life specialist.

While SickKids Hospital has helped me through my medical struggles, it has also helped me find others like myself, struggling with similar challenges, which has made my journey a lot easier. Along with SickKids introducing me to all these new friends, AboutFace has done this for me as well. I started attending AboutFace events a few years ago, and it has introduced me to so many beautiful friends whom I can related to and share common experiences with. AboutFace has taught me that it’s okay to be different, and that I no longer had to be ashamed because I have my AboutFace family with me. Seeing that there are so many people like myself (as well as those with other differences) has opened my eyes to the fact that not only am I not alone, but through my experiences, I can help others and impact their lives as much as they have for me. Through AboutFace, I have met such incredibly strong people who have inspired me to be strong and share my story with others which has also inspired me to further help others in the future going through struggles similar to my own."

Heyley's cheque presentation

2014 Scholarship Winners: Hayley and Michelle

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Jul 11, 2014
Meet AboutFace Scholarship Winner Michelle!

By Michelle Harwood | AboutFace Member and Camper

Michelle, left

I first heard about "AboutFace" and attended Camp Trailblazers in September 2009. I was already one of the older campers; however, I used the opportunity to assist others. I was born with a Hemangioma and experienced a few surgeries throughout my life. When I first arrived at camp, I heard so many other stories of individuals going throu huge journeys. Since I was nearing the end of my hospital visits, I was able to help out campers so that they could see and understand that there is an amazing future ahead of them and to always keep their head up. I was bullied for having a facial difference as a child and i found it hard to fight through. Once I got to AboutFace and realized I was not the only oine going through this; my confidence and understnanding frew stronger. I was able to share my stories with younder childeren so that they could also gain confidence and courage to stand up for themselves in similar situations.

I continued on working with children through a program called 'Big Brothers Big Sister of Toronto' where I was a mentor to a younger 'sister' to help build her confidence and trust towards others as well as herself. I have also been involved in Me to We for zix years where I have raised awareness and funds for children in need both globally and locally. I have been the chair for this committee and have raised money through events and fundraisers in addition to taking part and running local food drives.

I realized through my work with children and AboutFace that my passion is helping children. At school, I enjoy studying science and math and I hope to be able to use my science education to become a doctor. My hospital visits while I was younger opened my eyes to the many different careers that are focused on helping children. These visits and my later involvement in AboutFace helped me realize that I wanted to be either a family practitioner or pediatric craniofacial surgeon. I want to be able to give back to children who are going through situations similar to those I experienced.

Michelle at Camp!

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