Cooking in Migizii Agamik
EmpoweringU offers students financial literacy opportunities
Like many students, Taylor Galvin knows what it’s like to worry about money. After losing her financial support, the forth-year Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources student was trying to find new ways manage her finances when she found out about the EmpoweringU Budgeting and Saving Tips workshop.
Galvin attended the workshop and has stayed involved in EmpoweringU. She feels that the program is valuable for Indigenous students. “It will help students with their money management skills. As someone who has lived in a First Nations community, I know the financial struggle of living day to day with little money. EmpoweringU is teaching me how to manage and monitor my money,” she said.
EmpoweringU is a Financial Wellness Program offered through the Indigenous Student Centre. The program provides information on Financial Aid and Awards, paying for school, budgeting, banking 101, savvy saving tips from students and many more various sessions and workshops.
Galvin feels that the most encouraging thing about the EmpoweringU program is having very supportive staff and mentors who genuinely care about her. “The environment was always friendly and encouraging,” she said. “They were always willing to help in any way.”
EmpoweringU understands that financial struggles can often cause Indigenous students to experience an array of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, nervousness and stress about finances. With busy academic schedules, jobs and family commitments, it’s often difficult to devote time to managing money. However, developing financially smart habits during university is essential to achieving future goals.
November is Financial Literacy Month. Organizations, community groups and individuals are promoting knowledge, skills and resources to help people make confident, responsible financial decisions in everyday life.
As part of Financial Literacy Month, EmpoweringU is offering an Eating Healthy on a Budget workshop on November 27, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This is an interactive workshop to learn how to prepare nutritious budget-friendly foods from a holistic perspective that includes tradition, spirituality and meaning. Participants will prepare a meal to share and head home with a delicious treat for the next morning. You can RSVP by November 18 by emailing Denise.Proulx@umanitoba.ca. There are 15 spots available.