Former prime minister’s education project gets RBC boost

The RBC is donating $300,000 to the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative to support the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship program and to encourage youth to stay in school.
“This innovative partnership will allow more Aboriginal students to have the opportunity to set long-term education and career goals,” said Paul Martin, founder of MAEI.
RBC’s funding will provide teacher training, program materials and development to current and new locations.
“We are proud to support MAEI and help provide Aboriginal students with the tools and resources they need to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life,” said Shari Austin, vice-president and head, Corporate Citizenship at RBC.
Students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School have been active participants in MAEI, which was founded in 2006.
MAEI is operating in seven locations across Canada and plans to add six schools over the next three years.
The Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship program is designed to improve students’ proficiency in all subject areas including business, math, English, accounting, marketing and information technology. Students learn how to create a product- or service-based business through the program, which involves hands-on activities, guest speakers and mentors.
On-reserve Aboriginal students have a higher drop-out rate (60 per cent) for high school than non-Aboriginal Canadians (9.5 per cent), according to MAEI figures. Only nine per cent of Métis people, seven per cent of First Nations people and four per cent of Inuit people have obtained a university degree, compared to 23 per cent of non-Aboriginal Canadians.