Oluwatobi’s story: From foster care to becoming a lawyer

Oluwatobi exudes excitement about her career after graduating with a bachelor’s degree at Queen’s University and a law degree at McGill University. Yet her vision of becoming a lawyer once seemed highly unlikely. She’d grown up in extended care without the resources needed to attend university. Donors helped her dream become a reality through the Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation (CCAF) Scholarships program.

“CCAF support lifted me out of struggle,” says Oluwatobi. “I was a foster child, and now I’m a lawyer. How often do you hear stories like that?”

Overcoming barriers and financial hurdles with CCAF scholarships

Toronto youth in extended care with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) often face academic challenges and barriers due to trauma, frequent moves and financial instability. They are 50 percent less likely than peers to enrol in post-secondary education. If they do, they need financial support, which is unlikely to come from family due to limited resources, and minimal government funding.

CCAF scholarships open doors for Catholic youth, helping them pursue higher education and a better life. CCAF awarded 79 scholarships last year, enabling current and former youth in extended Society care to attend university, college and trade school.

“Scholarships like these create futures for high-risk youth,” says Jim Gilligan, Executive Director of the CCAF. “Oluwatobi is going to be very successful, thanks to her efforts and the support of our CCAF donors.”

Your donations offer holistic support beyond tuition

Oluwatobi’s social worker from the CCAS encouraged her to apply for CCAF scholarships in high school. CCAF scholarships and additional funding covered costs relating to her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at Queen’s University, Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor degrees from McGill University, housing for an internship at noted law firm McCarthy Tétrault and attendance at the Black Law Students Association of Canada conference.

“When she needed help with conference costs, I said ‘No problem,’” says Gilligan. “Sometimes needs arise that go beyond scholarships and into CCAF’s mission to support youth readiness. We want to make sure these kids get through.”

“I owe a lot of my success to CCAF,” agrees Oluwatobi. “Yes, it comes down to my hard work, but their support alleviated a lot of stress.”

Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion is also a priority for this young lawyer. “There’s not a lot of Black, Indigenous and people of colour in these spaces,” she explains. “Black girls who want to be lawyers don’t see themselves represented. So, I’m thinking, why can’t I be a representative for them?”