Student Stories
Every student has a story. Read it…
For many students, the final year of high school is defined by graduation photos and college acceptance letters. For Menna, it was defined by a quiet, heavy question: “How can I afford to go?” Menna grew up in a single-income refugee household. For seven years, her family was separated from her father, leaving her mother […]
For the past two years, Amelia has been doing her best to keep life steady for her family. Money has been tight, and covering everyday needs hasn’t been easy. “We were facing a lot of financial problems,” she shared. “Some months, it was hard to know how we would manage everything.” Groceries, clothing, and other […]
For a mother of four who has just taken the brave step of leaving an abusive situation, starting over can feel like an uphill battle. The weight of providing for four children while trying to find safety and get settled is a burden no one should carry alone. “This gift truly means so much to […]
Give the Gift of Warmth This Season to make sure No Student is Left Behind Raising growing children is a joy, but also a constant balancing act. As the holiday season approached, Elena, a single mother in Halton, found herself facing a familiar but heavy challenge: preparing her three children (Maria, 12, Sarah, 9, and […]
The first time Maya walked into the Zen Room, she just sank quietly into a soft beanbag. She didn’t say a word. For weeks, her teachers noticed the change, as she started pulling away and becoming less active in class. She stopped turning in assignments and started spending lunch alone. “It wasn’t just about grades,” […]
This gift brought some peace back into our lives. When Maria made the brave decision to leave an abusive relationship, she found herself starting over in Halton as a single mother of four. She successfully got her and her kids out, but they were in a new home with little more than courage and hope. […]
Lily started the school year like every other student — excited, ready, and walking through the doors with a brand-new backpack. But a few weeks in, her backpack broke. Her family was already stretched thin, and replacing it just wasn’t possible. So Lily did what many students do when life gets tough: she stayed quiet. […]
“There were days I just didn’t want to go to school because I felt… invisible.” For Jasleen, Grade 9 wasn’t just about new classes or making friends — it was about hiding. She avoided gym class, skipped group activities, and always kept her head down. Her teachers thought she was disengaged, but the truth was […]
Safia left an unstable home at 16. Despite a difficult financial situation and little personal support, she was determined to become the first person in her family to go to university.
In Grade 11 Justina lost her only parent.
HLF provided funds for some necessities and covered her school basketball team fee.
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