The Gems Scholarship Program

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  • The Esthetic Institute: This incredible school provides top-notch education to those pursuing education in this field. They also provide a matching program with our organization!

    ABES College: With a wide variety of certifications attainable in 1-2 years, this is a wonderful match for those seeking more variety in options.

    Book Keeping Certification: This is an incredible offer for those who are orientated towards numbers and must work from home.

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  • PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THESE.

    The Nadia El-Dib Memorial Scholarship

    The Shannon Madill Memorial Scholarship

    The Celeste Yawney Memorial Scholarship

    The Jasmine Lovett Memorial Scholarship

    The Jessica Newman Memorial Scholarship

    The Brittany Meszaros Memorial Scholarship

Please donate and support survivors of domestic abuse with the gift of education.

GEMS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

  • This is the 1st Scholarship to be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse from the Gems Scholarship Programs.

    About Nadia El-Dib

    Nadia was a stunning woman, 22 years old, the life of the party and lived to make others happy. She was murdered in March 2018 by someone she had seen but had separated from a few months before.

    He asked her to come into his car to provide him with ‘closure’ and Nadia agreed. This was the last time her friends and family would ever see her again. After refusing to let her out of his car, he stabbed her 40 times, slit her throat and then shot her.

    “We are so honoured to have Gems name their 1st Scholarship in Nadia’s name. She had dreams of becoming a lawyer. Those dreams won’t ever come true now but at least another woman’s dreams can in her memory.

    Gems has been a light for myself and my family through some dark times. We are so happy to be a part of and to support Gems and specifically the Scholarship Program”

    -Racha El-Dib (Nadia’s Sister)

    For more information on Nadia El-Dib's case please click the link below:

    https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/cps-confirms-nadia-el-dib-was-stabbed-roughly-40-times-by-former-boyfriend-before-being-shot-1.3890819

  • This is the 2nd Scholarship to be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse from the Gems Scholarship Programs.

    About Shannon Madill

    Shannon was a young Calgarian actress who is said to have lit up any room she entered. She was murdered in November 2014 by her husband.

    To the Madill family’s knowledge, there had been no physical abuse until the night Shannon was packed and ready to leave her husband.

    It was this night that he choked her… first with his hands, then his belt when his hands grew tired… and ended her life. When asked why he said, “I just wanted her to stop talking”.

    Shannon was a warm, funny, outgoing woman and although her case is not what we think of as a typical domestic abuse situation, her life ended all too soon when she was murder by her husband.

    Shannon was an advocate for women’s issues, one of her favorite charities was Because I Am A Girl.

    I’m sure Gems would have been a cause she would have been happy to contribute to.

    We will never get to hear her voice, laugh at her jokes or even just give her a hug again but it is such a honor to have Shannon’s name attached to this scholarship that will give another woman and her family the opportunity to live a fully and happy life without violence.”

    -Lisa Madill (Shannon’s Mother)

    For more information on Shannon Madill’s case please click the link below:

    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4431581

  • This is the 3rd Scholarship to be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse from the Gems Scholarship Programs.

    About Celeste Yawney

    Celeste Yawney was brutally taken from her two boys, loving family and a community that adored her in 2015 due to domestic abuse reaching its pinnacle when Duran Redwood ended her life.

    "She was a big bright shining light. She loved everyone, even those who were harder to love… You know, we joked that if we had one chair with a sign saying FOR CELESTE’S BEST FRIEND so many people would have assumed it was for them! She was well known and well loved.

    Celeste had a strong personality. She was likely the strongest person that anyone who knew her had ever met. He just beat and manipulated it out of her…

    We need people to understand this because we watched and were confused. We begged her to leave and we didn’t understand how complicated it was inside of her because of the abuse.

    She started dating him (Redwood) just before our Dad died which was a time when Celeste struggled so much. He got in because of how vulnerable she was. She was the type of person no one could ever have imagined would be in a relationship like that, but domestic abuse can get anyone. We have learned that we want other people to understand that too.

    In the end, she had regained her strength and was ready to leave. But this is how it goes so often. The victim leaves, the abuser loses control and that’s when… this happens.

    Celeste was a phenomenal mother, sister, daughter, and friend. She was human, but an incredible one. She would have absolutely loved that her memory is connected to helping another woman succeed and live a life free of abuse. I think this is amazing and my family and I are just so grateful.”

    -Janine Yawney Pereira (Celeste’s sister)

    Gems is honored and humbled to contribute to this incredible woman’s legacy. She stood for strength, love and believed that everyone should know someone has their back.

    We could not be more pleased to align ourselves to Celeste, her boys, her family and the community around her.

     “My family and I just want you to know how incredibly grateful we are that Gems exists.

    You are providing an actual way, a practical way, forward for women to keep themselves and their children out of abuse.

    We are so grateful that you are doing this and helping keep others from ending up like Celeste and our family.

    Thank you so much. We are so grateful. We all (our family) want you to know that.”

    -Janine Yawney Pereira (Celeste’s sister)

    For more information on Celeste Yawney’s case please click the link below:

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-redwood-murder-trial-pathologist-1.4991857


  • This is the 4th Scholarship to be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse from the Gems Scholarship Programs.

    About Jasmine Lovett

    Jasmine Lovett was one such woman. She, and her 22-month-old daughter Aliyah were taken from their loved ones in the spring of 2019.

    “Less than five hours after police launched an undercover operation targeting a man they believed killed a Calgary mother and her toddler, the suspected murderer led the officers to the two bodies buried in shallow graves in a wooded area in Kananaskis Country, according to prosecutor Doug Taylor.

    Lovett had been shot and had suffered blunt force head injuries, according to a forensic pathologist. Her daughter had also suffered blunt force trauma to her head.”

    “Jasmine was a very special person. She had a quirky sense of humour and loved to play pranks.  Her favourite day of the year was April fool’s Day.
    She was also a very thoughtful and kind person.  She would take her last $2 and spend it on you. 

    Jasmine lived each day to the best of her ability and was a loving Mother, Daughter and Sister.  We all miss her dearly and we are happy her memory will live on in the Jasmine Lovett Memorial Scholarship.” - Kim (Jasmine’s mother)

    For more information on Jasmine Lovett's case please click the link below:

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/trial-calgary-robert-leeming-jasmine-lovett-1.6207794



For those considering applying for a Scholarship through Gems:

Please take a look at the opportunities below.

The Esthetics Institute: - https://www.estheticinstitute.ca/

Co-founders Vanessa DeMello and Silvia D’Costa believed in the Gems mission to end the cycle of domestic abuse from the instant they heard and knew they wanted to be a meaningful part of the impact. Gems and the Esthetic Institute have partnered as their school is now providing a scholarship match thus doubling the efforts of the charity and it’s donors!

ABES: - https://abes.ca/about/

Social services and health care programs at ABES will provide you with the tools needed to begin a rewarding career in your community. Please browse the courses and see if one may be a fit for you.

BOOK KEEPING/ Accounting Certificate:

Our organization is open to options that work best for the candidate in this category. Please look at the options in Calgary and surrounding area and let us know which is the best fit for you and why.

Please see below for further application criteria.

If you don’t receive the award, try again. If you do receive the award, understand that thousands of people have contributed to making this opportunity possible for YOU. Treat it like the life-altering gift it is and change your stars.

Gems for Gems seeks to honour those who have been taken from their families, and community, through domestic abuse. As such, all scholarships are named in memory of victims. Please see below and reach out if your loved one was taken and you would like to have a memorial scholarship to honour them further.

Application Requirement

  • Each application must include a reference letter from a doctor, lawyer, or a member a shelter’s management team as well as the reference’s name and contact information.

  • Each applicant must write a maximum of 500 words explaining why they should be selected.

  • If selected for an interview, each applicant must bring/provide:

    • Transcripts

    • Banking information (proof of income)

  • Incomplete applications will not be considered for the scholarships.

  • You must be a female survivor of domestic abuse.

  • You must have verification to verify the above.

  • You must have a high school education.

  • This is the 5th Scholarship to be awarded to a survivor of domestic abuse from the Gems Scholarship Programs.

    About Jessica Newman

    Jessica Newman was last seen in March 2015 and it was two months before her remains were discovered.

    “After stabbing her 75 times, Rubletz dumped Newman’s body in a ditch near Balzac “to be left to the ravages of the elements, insects and scavenging elements,” said Poelman.

    “Six agonizing weeks went by before they found Jessica in a ditch, tossed away as if she was nothing,” Newman’s mother, Rhonda Steward, said in her victim impact statement delivered Thursday.”


    "I'd like to thank everyone at Gems for this opportunity to be part of a charity that offers a new beginning to survivors of domestic abuse. Giving scholarships to these women, who can only be described as warriors, means they have a chance to educate themselves and change their lives forever.

    My Jessica would have loved to be a part of a program such as this. She loved to help people and she herself would have benefitted from it too. This is an opportunity to be the strong women that you know you can be, to inspire others, and to live in the freedom you were always meant to have. Gems is just the beginning of a lifetime of possibilities!

    To the survivor who receives the Jessica Newman Memorial Scholarship,

    I wish for you much success. You have already accomplished the most difficult part of your journey and your education is just the next step. You have my prayers for success and a lifetime of happiness. - Rhonda (Jessica's Mom)

    For more information on Jessica Newman's case please click the link below:

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/kevin-rubletz-jessica-newman-murder-sentence-1.4558168




All scholarships are given out in memory of a woman in Calgary who lost their life due to domestic violence.

If you would like your loved one to be remembered in this way, please reach out.