YIP Spotlight: Voices 4 Youth
Learn more about youth projects that received funding from our Youth Impact Project.
About the Youth Impact Project
The Youth Impact Project (YIP) is a collaboration between the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (CYPT) and Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL).
On June 8, over 100 youth from 15 local organisations pitched their ideas to a panel of nine youth. The Youth Decision-Making Panel (“The Dragons”) decided which projects would receive funding to make their idea a reality. The Youth Impact Project looks to fund youth who are addressing local challenges which are identified through the 2023 Youth Impact Survey results. The funded projects include a focus onsupporting youth mental and physical health, increasing feelings of belonging,and responding to climate change and food insecurity.
Youth will be working on their projects untilDecember. We're featuring each of the 12 projects!
Voices 4 Youth
Who pitched the project?
Pitchers: Jasmin A., Wal C., Omar E., Faiqa R.
On the team: Ali M., Ekrema M., Rowson A., Harith A.
What problem are you addressing in Waterloo Region?
- Youth not feeling like valued members of their community
- Behavioural challenges, seeking attention in negative ways
- Youth not feeling heard/their achievements not being recognized
What are you going to do with the money?
The project focuses on 4 key aspects:
- Recognizing youth and community achievements
- Amplifying youth and community voices
- Identifying challenges and solutions and connecting to helpful resources
- Establishing valuable community partnerships
Voices 4 Youth wants to create a media channel to connect with community members and key figures to talk about the community, highlight community voices, share about achievements, and identify where there might be challenges and spaces for solutions. The funding will go towards getting equipment to make this media channel a possibility, and look to the future to how to grow the project to include billboards highlighting successes and how solutions are improving the community.
Keep up with this project
More about the Youth Impact Project
The Youth Impact Project is a collaboration between Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL) and the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (CYPT).
Latest posts
SWRIL receives "Best Education Program" and "Best Social Innovation" Awards at the 2024 Global Innovation Management Institute's Innovation Awards!
Learn more about youth projects that received funding from our Youth Impact Project.