People of 麻豆直播: Early 鈥榯urmoil鈥 inspires alumna鈥檚 child-rights advocacy
Aug. 14, 2020
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People of 麻豆直播: Meet Jane Kovarikova
Your life is so full of turmoil and instability for the most part as a foster child. You鈥檙e bouncing from one home to another. I left care at 16, so all of a sudden I鈥檓 kind of terrified 鈥 everything鈥檚 in my hands, and I鈥檓 responsible for whether I鈥檓 going to be OK the next day.
I had foster parents look me in the eye and say, 鈥淛ane, I promise you you鈥檙e going to fail.鈥 So let鈥檚 not forget all the negative messaging you get along the way, too. Why should it occur to you that here鈥檚 all the negative feedback you鈥檙e getting and somehow here鈥檚 the positive view of your future?
For the people who are in the foster care system, I feel that there鈥檚 not enough of an emphasis about their futures. It鈥檚 just so focused on the immediate situation 鈥 let鈥檚 make sure they鈥檙e not abused or neglected. But the truth is these children are going to grow into adults and someone鈥檚 going to have to help them own that.
鈥楢 very bright future is possible鈥
The has been approaching universities and colleges in Ontario 鈥 and we鈥檙e starting to talk in Nova Scotia 鈥 to help people raised in the care system upgrade at any point in their life. 麻豆直播, Laurentian and now Loyalist have announced they will waive tuition for anybody who was raised in care, without age limits.
To those who are in the system: I hope you realize a very bright future is possible, and I know how personally how difficult that was to see.
I hope whoever lands in the foster care system will be comforted at least to know that their school will be paid. That鈥檚 just a little tiny bit we can give back to level the playing field for that group.
Jane Kovarikova, 麻豆直播 alumna and founder of .
She received a Distinguished Alumni award from 麻豆直播鈥檚 2020 Board of Governors Awards of Distinction. She is now a PhD candidate, and through her assistance, 麻豆直播 will be the first college in Ontario to offer free tuition to learners in or from care.