Desjardins launches the 2010 Bursaries for 18-to-30-year-olds program

MONTREAL, Sept. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - Fondation Desjardins, celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, is proud to announce the launch of the 2010 edition of the Bursaries for 18-to-30-year-olds program for young people seeking to improve their employability.

The call for candidates has begun in Desjardins caisses in Québec and Ontario, local employment centres and professional training centres.  The program now includes 80 bursaries of $750 each, for a total of $60,000.

These bursaries are meant to encourage young people who need a little boost for personal projects such as technical or supplementary training and for purchasing educational materials, or even for going back to school. International projects are also eligible if they are shown to provide benefits for Canada. Any skill search that can assist young people in preparing for a better future and better social integration is acceptable.

The Fondation Desjardins Bursaries for 18-to-30-year-olds program was created 21 years ago and in that time it has awarded over $785,000 to help 15,080 young people starting out in their careers.  It is offered to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Applications will be accepted until November 10, 2010, and Desjardins caisses will award bursaries to recipients in March 2011. Application forms and eligibility conditions are available on the Web site at: www.desjardins.com/en/fondation.

About Fondation Desjardins

Fondation Desjardins has been fulfilling its mission to provide educational support for the past 40 years. In Québec, Fondation Desjardins is well known for distributing more university bursaries than any other private foundation. It encourages research, training, acquiring skills and employability. The Fondation rewards cooperative spirit, volunteerism and entrepreneurship. As a component of Desjardins Group, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, the Fondation will distribute nearly $750,000 in 2010. Over the last four decades, it has granted nearly $12 million to more than 9,300 people. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com/en/fondation.

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