Thank you very much to the committee for welcoming Karen and I here to speak with you today about this important topic.
My name is Michael Furdyk. I'm the co-founder and director of innovation at TakingITGlobal, a charity I co-founded in 1999, which operates the Connected North program. I'm based in Toronto, the traditional territory of the Anishinabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
To improve high school graduation rates and successful outcomes for indigenous students, our focus must be on equitable access to learning resources and opportunities that are inspiring, culturally relevant and customized to their unique learning goals. Harnessing the power of technology is also an essential component for creating accessible opportunities.
Given the challenges of reaching students in some of Canada's most remote and isolated communities, which you've heard from many of the panellists to date, many students lack access to the educational resources, mental wellness programming and future pathways guidance readily available to K-12 students in the south. Graduation rates can only be increased if students are inspired and engaged in the classroom from the beginning of their educational experience. That's the goal of Connected North.
A program operated by our registered charity, TakingITGlobal, Connected North uses a technology-driven, classroom-based approach to connect first nations, Inuit and Métis students and teachers living in remote communities across Canada to live virtual learning experiences and opportunities not available to them locally. Previously, students would have been unlikely to access experiences like post-secondary campus tours, museum visits, hands-on coding programs and conversations with indigenous professionals from diverse sectors. Through Connected North, they can now participate from the comfort of their home community.
The program started in just one school, but now operates in 150 schools, serving over 30,000 K-12 students and more than 500 active teachers. During the school year to date, we've delivered over 200,000 minutes of live interactive digital learning. All sessions are customized to meet the unique needs of every school, teacher and classroom, with a focus on delivery by indigenous educators, mentors and role models such as MP Idlout, who recently spoke to students.
It looks like Karen has joined us as well.
Karen, I'll give you a minute to talk a bit about the history of Connected North.