This year, we witnessed resilience, creativity, and brilliance in all forms. Thanks to every single member of our incredible ABEEL family!
Irrespective of how you identify, in this family, we have all chosen to journey within the light of this vision: Creating A Global Shift In Holistically and Sustainably Embracing the Black Experience. What an amazing 2024!
This year we transitioned in theme from Let Your Light Shine —> Shine Brightly!
As 2024 comes to an end, we take this moment to reflect on how we have ALL come together to shine brightly.
A few of our notable highlights:
- Expanded our family into Nova Scotia (Halifax). Now in Alberta (Calgary, Alberta); Ontario (Ottawa, Greater Toronto Hamilton Area); British Columbia (Lower Mainlands); Nova Scotia (Halifax)
- This year more than 500 youths connected to this program. For which 330+ actively participated in our marque program Shaping the Future Sponsorship Program (SFSP)
- We have now provided access to the financial bursary to 192 youths (for post-secondary education)
- Have exclusively connected over 150 youths to our social and life skills opportunities. This includes mentorship, financial literacy chats, and mental health awareness.
- 19 youths were work-placed within EllisDon and KPMG Canada (remunerated roles that further provided fantastic opportunities for networking, building skills, and more)
Across the board, we saw genuine effort, and are endlessly grateful. Your dedication, hard work, and passion have driven every success we’ve celebrated this year. You’ve shown us what it means to “Shine Brightly,” and we couldn’t be prouder of the impact you’ve made.
While we journeyed through this year, we sometimes observed some people going through tough and sometimes rough situations. Situations that we noticed made some people question this truth – everyone embodies a light the world needs. This inspired our SFSP 2024/2025 topic: Living Your Authentic Self as a Black person.
To everyone going through those tough and probably rough situations, in this holiday season we want to let you know this:
We and the world at large NEED your light. No one else can shine it the way you can. While you navigate how to access your light in all you do, the ABEEL family is here for you and believes in you!
To everyone out there, as we continue to journey together in projecting love via embracing the Black Experience, we are assured of an exciting and fulfilling year ahead. Looking forward to an even brighter 2025!
Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, warmth, and light. With gratitude and holiday cheer,
ABEEL Foundation
