I have been lucky to have this opportunity to participate in the Host Program. The monthly $100 has helped me to buy clothes and some food for my family. It feels good to be able to help. It has also helped me to feel independent because I know I have $100 a month to help my mom with things. This is a great program for students like me. Thank you for making my life a little easier.
***
I would just like to start off by thanking you for this amazing bursary. The HOST Program is truly remarkable and certainly made a difference in my life. Since I was so generously granted the bursary, I have been working towards a few goals. First is saving up for university. I have already applied to Ottawa U, Queen's and Guelph. I applied for Arts and Sciences, Sciences and Psychology. I'm still in the process of finding my passion, but I look forward to discovering it. I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life. Unfortunately it's quite expensive but with the help of your generosity, some of the load is taken off my back. I cannot thank you enough for this fantastic opportunity, I am forever grateful!
***
I am writing to you to thank you for everything you did for me. This year is going very well so far. I wanted to let you know that you have greatly changed my life. I have improved in my study skills as well as understanding basic school tools.
I am grateful to have met you because these past two years of high school went so smoothly. Your support has been extremely helpful and I would not have been able to do it without your help and encouragement. If I did not have this chance of having $100 every month, life would be a lot harder since I was unemployed during the winter.
Before being selected in this program my life wasn’t easy at all. I walked to school every day but now I have managed to buy a bike which I use in the summer with the money which you send to me every month.
Sometimes life can be hard when you don’t have the money to support yourself, your needs, and even your wants. These days all my classwork and homework are done on my Chromebook which I bought with the help from the money you send as well as some money from the side.
I did not know that I would have this chance one day to have the Host Program in my high school. I now have the confidence that one day I will be able to achieve all of my dreams and goals.
Helping poor families and young children who are lacking education in Africa and building schools is one future goal of mine.
I found out that helping people, younger and older, is the only way I can pay back all of the good things which I had in my life.
I am very appreciative for all of the help that your program has given me. I know that you help many others in the same way and I respect that a great deal. I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Your work is helping us and I wish you continued success.
***
J'aimerais remercier le programme ANET pour l'aide financier du programme. Avec le 100$ par mois que j'ai reçus, j'ai été capable à payer des épiceries, je vais être capable d'acheter des cadeaux de noël pour ma famille. J'ai aussi été capable d'acheter des nouveaux souliers ou vêtements pour remplacer mes vieux use-âgés. Que 100$ par mois aide vraiment pour ce qui en ont besoins. J'aimerais aussi remercier les donateurs / trices qui m’ont aidé et aider les autres qui en avaient aussi besoin. J’espère un jour être capable de retourner l'aide qui m’a été donné.
(Translation) I would like to thank the HOST Program for the financial support. With the monthly $100, I have been able to buy groceries, I will be able to buy Christmas gifts for my family. I was also able to buy shoes and clothing to replace the worn-out ones. $100 each month really helps those who need it. I would also like to thank the donors who helped me and who help others. I hope one day to be able to pay back the help that I received.
***
I would like to start by thanking you so very much for the program again this year. Things haven’t been going to great at home and I’ve been trying my best to get to school every day. I’ve used the money to buy food for lunches, clothes as needed, medicine; I’ve also helped with rent a couple times, and other little things here and there. This has been so helpful for me and my family as well. Thank you again.
Je vous envois se message aujourd'hui pour vous mentionnez que la bourse aide beaucoup. Je ne pensais pas d’aller à mon bal de finissants à la fin de l'année car j'avais peur je n'aurais pas les sous, mais avec la bourse que vous m'avez donné ça me donnerait la chance d'y aller. Aussi quand j'ai la chance ceci m'aiderait d’acheter des cadeaux de noël pour ma famille.
(Translation) I am sending you this message today to tell you that the award helps a lot. I didn’t think that I would be able to attend my graduation ball at the end of the year because I was scared that I wouldn’t have the money. However, the award gives the chance to go. I will now have the opportunity to buy Christmas presents for my family.
***
I just wanted to let you know the money went to food, gifts and clothes for my coop assignments. The award the money is doing a lot of good. I am so very thankful for your support and have a great and merry Christmas.
***
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your generosity in providing this award. I am happy to have been selected as this year’s recipient for this award.
I am currently in grade 12 and am graduating in June next year. As a student whose family has been undergoing financial difficulty, with this program, I and my family has been able to have enough to eat. Of the $100 that I receive from the HOST Program, I have used some of it for food at home which helped me a lot in my academics because I did not have to worry about what my siblings will have to take for lunch at school or eat at home since neither of my parents had jobs. It also helped me to continue saving for my education after I graduate since I did not have to use the little that I get from my recent job to give it to my parents. I was also able to use this money to pay for important field trips at school and for sports tournaments, because I love sports, mostly rugby. This money has not only been a great help to me but also for my parents and many siblings. Since I started receiving this money I have been able to carry a lunch pack for myself because I know that my young brothers and sisters at least have enough to eat. I remember once I had borrowed $150 from a friend because that day we had nothing to eat. This might seem too much but for a large family this was only enough for a week. As soon as I had my first deposit I used it to pay back the debt because it is not good to stay in debt because it does not allow you to move forward and all the thanks go to HOST Program for this opportunity.
This money offered to many students like me assists us in pursuing our career goals and helps us feel that there are people out there who think and care about us besides our families. This pushes me to study even harder so that I can be able to do the same thing for other students in the future. I am glad that I was chosen as the lucky student. Thank you for making the HOST Program possible, I will never forget the generosity extended to me!
***
I want to thank you and the Host Program for providing me money each month until the month of June; that is very kind !! I am so glad. This money helps me to do many things such as paying for my graduation picture, for college next year, for the prom and graduation ceremony. These are costs I would have much difficulty to afford to pay for this year. Since I live with my mother, she doesn’t have paid work right now and, having four children to provide needs, it is very difficult for her. Since I am a grade twelve student, many fees are required to pay for but having this student account provides me money for my needs; it helps so much.
***
First off I would truly like to give you a great thanks for what you have done for me. The money that you have given me has gone into two major investments thus far. Primarily it has helped me tremendously in contributing to the cost of the Drivers Ed course offered at my school. And secondly, it has made possible a trip to New York City with my English class.
There have been so many new opportunities that this money is going towards. It has made possible things I previously would not have even remotely thought about doing. As mentioned prior, I have been taking the Drivers Ed course at school, and the money has helped a humungous amount. It paid for my half of the course that my parents tasked me with purchasing. Having my licence will be a huge help in having independence away from my parents; they are always having to take the time out of their day to get me to work and back.
As well I am planning to use it in contribution to Christmas presents for the family. I have three brothers and two parents living with me and am really looking forward to getting them some decent gifts this year. I believe they will like it too.
As well there is the New York Trip that I shall be attending this school year (March 2016). This is a trip that will be fully funded by myself in celebration of me completing the first Semester of Grade Eleven and to have the opportunity to see another part of the world. The seven-hundred dollars that the trip is worth is all to be paid in full by my own money.
Finally, I again would just like to thank you repeatedly for what you have made possible for me. This thing that you have done for me and my family will truly make Grade eleven a memorable year.
***
I would like to thank you and everyone in the Host Program for what you do to help students in need. I am one of those students that needed that extra hand in some ways. You all have helped me on days that I didn't have a lunch or small change for a little snack, or even days that I needed something important from the store and my mom just didn't have that little bit of cash to buy it. I am also able to help my mom out a little with small errands she has to run. But most importantly it has impacted my life in the way that I've learned to value the small things and not take money for granted. Even though I got this money every month, I never just spent it all just because I got money, I made sure to use it wisely, because it's not there forever. This may have been one of the biggest impacts that have occurred in my life, aside from the courageous, outstanding and most humble people I've met in the past few years. This will definitely be something that I’ll always support and never forget for the rest of my life.
With all that being said, I am truly honored and blessed to have been chosen for such a great cause and to have this extra help that not everyone is able to get. Hopefully I can aspire to make a change in the lives of others as you have in mine. Thank you, and happy holidays.
***
I thank you for your financial help you provide with me. I use the money in a smart way. For example, I use it to buy clothes for myself and I bought shoes and school backpack last week. This money helps me a lot. Thank you so much for all you have done.
***
I want to thank all the people who are involved with this Host program and I feel honoured that I have been selected for this award. It helps me to have some food on my table and also helps me to inspire myself. Thanks again to all and I wish all of you Happy Christmas.
***
I want to thank you once again for choosing me as a recipient for the HOST Program for the 2015-2016 school year. When I found out I was going to be a recipient again this year, it gave me so much hope for the school year ahead. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support from you and the donors.
This year is my graduating year and although it’s been stressful trying to figure out college programs, scholarships and everything else, the HOST program has pushed me to do well in school and in life.
Last week, I applied to college. Without the HOST program, the application fee would have been a burden for my mom but since she didn’t have to worry about it, a weight has been lifted off all of our shoulders.
With the money I have been receiving, I have started to put some of it away towards college, but I still treat myself to lunch every now and again and I have been able to buy Christmas presents for my friends and family. It’s a really rewarding feeling.
Your generosity will go a long way to helping me this year and beyond. Thank you! You have made a real difference in my life.
Thank you once again. It means the world to me!
***
The money you are providing me has helped me in that it allows me to buy some clothes, shoes and food. The clothes and shoes have helped me in that I very much needed these things for school and when I go out of the house. The food has helped my dad and me very much.
This money has had a very positive effect in my life. It takes some pressure off my dad to be the only person who usually brings in money at home. The money also allows me to buy decent equipment to play basketball, like shoes, which I love to play!! Thank you very much.
***
I have no words to thank you and your program for your efforts to help me during my school time. I'm in grade 12 right now and more money needed for me and for my school activities. Your program helps me a lot in doing so. I'm so lucky to be one of the chosen students to receive your help because of my family's financial needs, it's harder for me to get money from my mom, so with the help of the program I don't ask for that much money; it is rare if I do ask. Thank you so much and hope that more money is donated to your program so it keeps going and helps students in school.
***
Je vous remercie pour l`argent que vous m`avez donné. Ça m`a vraiment aidé et ma famille aussi. Ça m`a aidé à acheter des vêtements et de la nourriture et des médicaments pour ma sœur. Je me sentais utile pour ma famille. Les nouveaux vêtements me font sentir comme les autres jeunes autour de moi.
(Translation) I want to thank you for the money that you have given me. It has really helped and my family. It has helped me buy clothes, food and medication for my sister. The new clothes make me feel like the other kids around me.
***
I am grateful to you and your organization for helping me once again this year. You were of great help to me and my family, last year, with the financial aid. This year, your help have contributed mainly to grocery shopping and paying for school field trips. I just want to say thank you again for the help you have given to many families. I will continue to study harder to assure you that your organization you have formed is very beneficial and supportive.
***
Thank you for supporting me with the Host Program. I have used the money to pay for my university applications and I'm saving the rest for university next year.
***
Thank you guys so much in choosing me for receiving $100 every month for the school year. It has helped me a lot with certain financial struggles my mother and I have been facing. I moved houses almost 3 months ago and the money from this school year allowed me to buy a bus pass every month so I can get to school and come back home, not to mention go to work, and sometimes hang out with friends, without worrying about the cost of the bus fare. Also, not only did it help cover the cost of the bus pass but it helped me last year and a bit this year in cutting my hours from work so I can spend more time with my mother and two younger sisters. So thank you again for making this possible!
***
Receiving support from the Host Program has made a very positive impact on my life. Thanks to the Host Program I have been able to attend school more frequently now that I can buy bus tickets to get there. Another way the program has impacted my life is that I am saving to buy a grad dress that I would not be able to have if it wasn't for the program. I am very thankful to have your support.
***
Thank you so much for this grand opportunity. I have never been one of the lucky ones that get picked for amazing things or someone that stands out from the rest. So when I was called to meet the people from the HOST Program, I was truly surprised. My family and I have been going through a lot this year, and it felt really good to be chosen for something like the HOST Program. This program has not only helped me financially, but also mentally.
Before being chosen for the HOST, I was just about ready to give up in school. I was not in a good place, and felt as if nobody cared about what I did. Now, I feel like someone does care about me and my future. It makes me want to do the best I can in school to be successful and be able to give back, just like this program is doing for me. Some of the money being given to me by this program went into hot lunches and bus tickets. Another part was used for Christmas presents for my family. But the majority of the money being given to me by this program will be going to my University savings.
I can't thank the HOST Program enough for all the help they have provided for me and my family. I feel so lucky to have been chosen, and I will never forget this.
***
After receiving the news that I was chosen by your program, I was so excited and thankful to you guys and my school. The $100 I receive every month has helped me so much. I was able to buy myself a laptop for school and so many other things. For a 17 year old, responsibility has become a huge thing in my life. I am able to pay for internet and cable for my home and also buy extra food. Before you guys came into my life, I couldn't pay my phone bill every month or have a snack whenever and wherever I wanted or when I was hungry at places like Tim Hortons, McDonalds, etc. because I usually saved every penny I got from Ontario Works but now, I can live more happily and not miss on so many opportunities .I am really grateful for people like you in this world because you have taught me so much although I don't usually see you all. I would love to impact someone's life one day just as you have done to mine.
***
I would like to start by thanking you for your kindness and I really admire what you do. I come from a 9-member family that came to Canada 5 years ago in hopes of finding a new place to live out our dreams. We just got our citizenship earlier this year. I’m proud to be a Canadian citizen now, a person who represents values of kindness and integrity. Canadians are recognized all over the world for being the kindest people ever, and all the Canadians that I’ve encountered so far are a true reflection of that. These people helped me along the journey of growing up, and I wouldn’t have liked to live my teenage years anywhere else in the world. Granted, I’ve still got a lot of time to grow before I fully mature. I’m in the middle of my senior year of high school and I’ve already learned so much about the world and experienced so many things, but I also feel like there are many more amazing things to come.
There are a lot of things that $100 a month can do for a person like me. The first thing I spent the money on was steel-toe boots. Just this year, I started volunteering as a Medical Venturer (MedVent for short), which is a joint program between Scours Canada and the Ottawa Paramedic Service. The steel-toe boots were part of the uniform requirements that we had to pay for ourselves. Being part of MedVents has made me learn so many things about paramedicine and I got to meet many awesome people who have the same passion as me, which is helping others in need. Except I don’t necessarily want to be a paramedic. I want to be a doctor once I get older. Being in MedVents is bringing me one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a doctor, since I get to see what it’s like working in the healthcare field.
The rest of the money I got was spent on various things. I spent most of it on food which includes groceries and lunch. I would sometimes go to the store and buy things that I’ve never tried before, for example tofu and fruits like papayas. I spent a little bit of the money on clothes. I also was able to play for the grad photo and the grad fee of $50.
Finally, I want to sincerely thank the people who make all this possible, including the people who donated to this program.
***
I would like to thank you for all the help you have spent the time in giving me over the past year and a half. The funds have been a help for me to buy personal needs and lately I have been saving each months payment to keep towards my graduation fees. Being a part of your program has made me realize how grateful I am for the little things, even the ones that are not visible. I hope to continue to save progressively over the years, in hopes to have everything I would like to have for myself and my family. Growing up with a single parent and two other siblings makes things tight, but with your help and the resilience, I hope to give back to all the kind and deserving people who have helped me and who have believed in me. Thank you again, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the best in the New Year.
***
I have spent my days surrounded by family and friends and continue to be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. Among many things the generous donations that the Host Program has been sending us have helped bring joy to our home. I am proud to say that much of the funding I have received so far this year has helped go towards Christmas gifts for many loved ones. I hope your holidays are filled with as much laughter and good tidings as our families have had and thank you ever more for continuing to enlist and support us again this year, through the Host Program.
***
I would like to say thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to take part in the HOST Program. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for university next year! I’ve always been very passionate about my education, and thoroughly enjoyed many of the classes and extracurricular activities offered at my school. I’m very excited at the idea of continuing that in university, where I can further my education and skills to help me find a career I truly care about. I’ve gone to several campus tours and campus faculty fairs already this year to help me get a better idea of what I would like to pursue in the future. Right now I’m deciding between a between a few different majors at Carleton University. However, though I’m eager to go to university next year, I’ve always found it a bit stressful to think of how I will be able to finance it. I’ve often worried about taking out large student loans with high interest, or even working for a few years after high school in order to finance my post-secondary education. The HOST Program has definitely helped alleviate some of that stress and I am truly grateful for that. It’s made me feel like going to school is a more obtainable goal now because I have a financial starting point. It will help me pay for part of my tuition, or help buy some textbooks for my first year, which is very helpful for any student with financial need. This award has also helped me keep in mind that working hard will take you far in life. I care a lot about my classes and always put in my best effort to make sure I fully understand what I’m learning. I was touched when the staff at my school recognized my hard work and nominated me for this award. It made me realize that others acknowledge and appreciate the work I put in because I care about school, and that rewards can come from good effort. I found this has motivated me to keep up my work ethic even though my school work this year has been quite stressful. I cannot thank the HOST Program enough for the generous bursary I have been given, and what it has done for me. I hope it continues to help many other students in financial need.
***
At first I had difficulty writing this letter. There seems to be a first for everything as you grow up, and this is my first time having the opportunity to feel financial freedom. My family has always been limited to what we could buy. But not having things didn't mean it would always be that way. My attitude was that since I didn't have very much to start with, the harder I worked in school, the more I would earn, and the more I would have above the standards of my present state. But there is only so much you can do before you are forced to go to the food bank, or skip a holiday, or forget about vacations. That is why this gift means so much to me, because it broke those standards and helped me overlook price tags. I was able to focus on the important things, especially school. When it was time to pick the career I wanted to pursue, the big thing on my mind was how I was going to afford the applications for university. But having this money meant that I didn't have to worry and I applied early to Carleton, Ottawa U, and Waterloo. I'm happy to say that while I could have been figuring out a way to find $150 out of thin air, I was able to use my money and apply fast enough to receive early acceptance to Ottawa U for computer science.
Having this money means the world to me. It means so much more than buying new stuff, because it is my way of saying that I can buy new stuff if I want to. I don't feel limited, which is an uplifting opportunity. When I was younger I had a neighborhood paper route job, where I saved up enough money to buy myself a laptop. I've had this laptop all through high school and it is one of the reasons why I have the opportunity to pursue a career in computer science. I have to bring it to school almost every day for my programming class, and I worry about it being lost or broken all the time. But I feel much more comfortable now knowing that even if something bad does happen to it, I don't have to worry. Money shouldn't be complicated, and that's how I feel now. It is my last year of high school, one of the most stressful few months for any student, but I feel more relaxed now knowing that I can participate in things I would not have ever considered before, such as skiing. Thank you for helping me, this money means so much more than dollar signs. It is a reminder that things do work out in the end, and that there is always someone out there willing to help you when you need it most.
***
I just want to say thank you for your generosity and helping kids like me get through school. I have been using some of the money for necessities and saving the rest for “just in case money”. One of the months I decided I was going to pay it forward and help someone who needs it more than me, and it felt good paying it forward.
***
With working two jobs every day I haven’t had time to write my letter until right now. This year with the Host Program I have been able to help my little brother become a normal kid. Christmas wasn’t late and he received things that weren't second hand for the first time since we were very young. My mom has been able to pay most of her bills on time and keeping food in the house has been much easier. The Host Program has taught me a lot over the last two years. It’s taught me that there will always be a guardian angel out there looking over me through hard times and praising me through better times. I know that help not only financially but mentally will always be there in just a few short steps away. I really can’t thank you enough for what you and your family have done for me over the last two years. My brother also wanted me to add that you have been a blessing to our family and he is very excited to continue into a new journey.
***
I feel that I have been truly blessed by the generous scholarship you have awarded me. I’d like to tell you a little bit about how it helped me through the rest of first semester. Although I haven't used any of the funds yet, the scholarship was like a reminder to me. I was struggling a little bit this year worried and overwhelmed about getting into the right college and stressed about possibly not passing a course. This scholarship reminded me of all the accomplishments I've made throughout the years, this scholarship reminded me that I’ve never failed a course because I've always tried my best to do the best I can to pass the course. It reminded me that I have a future and if I can get through all these courses and get through this year without giving up that I’ll always keep doing my best to get what I want, that I won't take the easy way out. For that I thank you very much for this scholarship award and that I’ll do everything in my power to do the best I can throughout the rest of first and second semester of this year.
31 Lisa Gatwech
***
This past year has been quite the struggle but thanks to you and everyone’s support I have had the motivation and the funds that I need to succeed. I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done for me. I am very grateful for your support and I hope you had a very amazing Christmas.