Breaking Barriers with TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and Riipen.
The Breaking Barriers with TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and Riipen program helps Canadian students prepare for a career they will love after graduation. TELUS bursary recipients can connect with companies for short-term paid projects, helping them gain relevant work experiences and career clarity, build professional networks and develop their skills. This page serves as your gateway to understanding the program's fundamentals and is where you’ll find comprehensive information about the program.
How the program works.
Project structure
Projects are 60 hours total, completed between December 1, 2025 - January 30, 2026, working up to 10 hours a day or 30 hours per week. Students can work independently or in collaboration on projects.
Application process
Students who are invited will apply to projects between November 17 - 26, 2025. You can apply to up to 4 projects at a time. The first employer to accept your application is the project that you will work on. There are no opportunities to change projects once you are added to a project.
Payment & deadlines
Students are paid $1,400 via direct deposit for their completed projects.
Eligibility.
To participate, you'll need to meet some basic requirements. You are eligible if you:
- Are currently enrolled with an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution
- Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Are legally allowed to work in Canada, based on your province or territory's regulations
- Are a 2025 TELUS Student Bursary recipient
Employment and Social Development Canada, our funder, requires identity verification for all participants. Make sure you have:
- A piece of valid government-issued ID
- Proof of enrolment for the current or upcoming term. You can often download it from your student portal.
- Your SIN (required for tax purposes)
- Your banking information (so we can pay you)
Need more details on ID verification? Read this article for a full breakdown.
Need help?
It takes time to learn a new platform or program. That's why we've created a variety of resources to support you.
Help center.
Breaking Barriers help centre - See all of the available help articles.
Student checklist - To make sure you don't miss any important steps.
Student support.
Still need help? Click on the avocado in the bottom right corner when logged in to telusbreakingbarriers@riipen.com to start a conversation with the Riipen team.
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ABOUT US
Riipen is enabling transformative opportunities for post-secondary institutions to collaborate with companies on real-time, real-world challenges that are embedded directly into coursework driving enhanced learner and employability outcomes.
Through this partnership, TELUS Student Bursary recipients will get exclusive access to hands-on health, communications, and computer science projects through the Breaking Barriers program.
Gain practical skills, build industry connections, and apply your learning to real challenges while making a meaningful impact in your community. This unique opportunity helps you stand out in a competitive job market and prepares your for long-term success.
Riipen and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation partner to Break Barriers by bringing practical work experiences to students.
Project availability
Students may complete one project cohort. Due to high demand and limited spots, placements aren’t guaranteed.
Watch Our Info Session
Learn about the program and have your questions answered