Expanding Horizons for African Nova Scotian Youth 

Across Nova Scotia, many African Nova Scotian students are reaching for postsecondary dreams, but too often, the systems around them aren’t built to help them get there. Generations of systemic barriers, from a lack of culturally relevant guidance to underrepresentation in curriculum and leadership, continue to shape how Black learners experience education. 

The African Nova Scotian Post-secondary PREP Academy Association is changing that story with support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada grants. 

The Horizon Outreach Project, 

Through its Horizon Outreach Project, PREP is expanding access to culturally grounded postsecondary preparation for African Nova Scotian youth across the province. The initiative introduces Nova Scotia’s first Black Youth Hub – a youth-designed space for learning, belonging, and empowerment, and a mobile outreach program that brings PREP’s College and University Preparation workshops to schools and communities in six regions. Centered on culture, mentorship, and community leadership, the program helps youth see themselves reflected in education, building confidence and expanding access to opportunity.

Confronting Systemic Barriers 

The need for this work remains urgent. From the 1994 BLAC Report to today’s assessments of equity in education, the data tells a consistent story: African Nova Scotian learners continue to face systemic barriers to postsecondary success. PREP’s approach directly addresses those inequities by providing mentorship, guidance, and culturally responsive pathways that meet youth where they are. 

Strengthening Communities with support from the RHF 

With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, PREP is strengthening its capacity to grow and sustain this vital work. Catapult funding enables the organization not only to expand its reach, but the program also offers a collaborative network of youth-serving organizations working together to share knowledge, strengthen leadership, and build a more sustainable sector for the long term. 

By investing in projects like PREP’s Horizon Outreach, the RHF is helping create the conditions for equity and opportunity, using youth-led, community-driven solutions.