For Immediate Release
January 18, 2024
Libro invests $60,000 for UWaterloo environment students to address local housing and homelessness challenges
Southern Ontario – Libro Credit Union has committed $60,000 to the Global Citizen Internship program at the University of Waterloo to address challenges related to affordable housing, health, and homelessness at local nonprofit organizations in southern Ontario.
This new partnership will place six student interns over the next three years from the Faculty of Environment with Habitat for Humanity and House of Friendship.
Shawn Good, CEO and President of Libro Credit Union, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
He said: “The positive impact of a partnership like this has a wide ripple effect. It includes supporting local organizations in their efforts to bring more affordable housing to the region, offering paid internships where young people gain employable skills, developing empathetic and compassionate leaders, and providing local organizations with access to emerging talent. Libro is excited and proud to be a part of that.”
The Global Citizen Internship program facilitates hands-on experiences for committed and passionate undergraduate and graduate students from the Faculty of Environment. Since its inception in 2019, the program has placed over 30 Environment students in organizations spanning Ontario, Yukon, Alberta, and British Columbia that are working to advance one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“Multi-sector partnerships, like this one, reflect Waterloo’s dedication to addressing global challenges and making meaningful impact globally and locally through collaborative relationships,” said Bruce Frayne, Dean of the Faculty of Environment.
Student interns bring their energy, knowledge, and skill to the non-profits they enter and have initiated and executed several projects including the research and submission of business cases, establishment of property evaluation and procurement strategies or planning and development of specific affordable housing projects.
Both Habitat for Humanity and House of Friendship are grateful to continue to host talented student interns, offering opportunities for those students to provide direct services to people experiencing homelessness and that foster community inclusion.
To learn more about the Global Citizen Internship program, visit: https://uwaterloo.ca/environment/alumni-friends/philanthropic-investments/global-citizen-internships.
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We warmly welcome interview opportunities. For more information, please contact:
Mike Donachie, Communications Manager, Libro Credit Union
226-926-4068, mike.donachie@libro.ca, libro.ca/media
Libro Credit Union
Libro Credit Union serves 113,000 Owners – the customers who all own a piece of the company, including 12,000 businesses. Libro has more than 800 employees, over 30 locations and a wide range of digital services, all supporting Owners as a full-service financial institution. Libro invests 100% of profits back into the people, businesses and communities it serves with a focus on four key areas: Financial Resilience, Employment, Local Food Accessibility and Housing.
Global Citizen Internships, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
The Global Citizen Internship program enables committed, talented, and passionate Environment undergraduate and graduate students to apply their knowledge in a work setting at Canadian registered charities and non-profit organizations with local and global reach. Since its inception in 2019, the program has placed over 30 Environment students across Canada working to advance one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
From left to right: Bruce Frayne, Dean, Faculty of Environment, Bianca Rocha, Purpose Integration Specialist, Libro, Alyssa Stephens, Psychological Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, House of Friendship, Sean Geobey, Associate Professor and Director of Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI), Vestiana Powell, Advancement Coordinator, Faculty of Environment, Scott MacLeod, Regional Manager, Community Banking, Libro, Ashleigh Thomas, Community Manager, Libro, Carolina Triana, Purpose Integration Specialist, Libro