Waterloo Region youth planning pitches to tackle their issues

About 30 youth-led groups will come together next month to pitch prototypes so they can access funding to create solutions for issues identified by their peers.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work with youth empowerment, getting them to take the lead in projects,” said Jahmeeks Beckford, play lead with the Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL) that launched the Youth Impact Project along with the Children and Youth Planning Table, a member-driven partnership with more than 65 voting member organizations across Waterloo Region.

During the 2024 budget, regional council committed $150,000 annually to support priority initiatives that meet the future needs of youth. The United Way Waterloo Region Communities invested $100,000 in the project.

CYPT and SWRIL hosted training and information sessions earlier this year with organizations from across the region. The sessions addressed local challenges to help inspire ideas and explored opportunities to create solutions.

Youth are currently working in partnership with community organizations to develop their ideas and will present them on June 8. Three groups selected by 10 to 12 youth panellists will receive funding.

The project is intended to build out solutions based on issues identified in the CYPT’s 2023 Youth Impact Survey, which measures things like belonging, well-being, mental health, security, homelessness and hunger. In total, 1,876 youth completed the survey.

“The Youth Impact Survey is not only about hearing young people’s voices — it’s about actively responding to those voices in meaningful ways,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “That’s why it’s so important that young people have the resources to participate in decisionmaking and help build the Waterloo Region of the future.”

Selected projects will be implemented between June and December, with the CYPT and SWRIL teams providing support and guidance to ensure funded projects are successful and achieve intended outcomes.

The Youth Impact Project is an equity tool, Beckford noted.

“Youth that are furthest from opportunity don’t always get the chance to build out their ideas and participate in decision-making,” he said. “The approach we’re taking in connecting with community organizations is making sure that we’re reaching all the different demographics of youth to the best of our ability.”

A summer camp designed for Canadian newcomers is just one of the initiatives being contemplated.

“Really incredible ideas are coming out of this and it’s all just based on giving the youth the front in those ideas,” he said.

The Youth Impact Project only uses a portion of the money available from the region and United Way, with additional funding opportunities to be announced shortly, Beckford said.

We’ve been doing a lot of work with youth empowerment, getting them to take the lead in projects.

JAHMEEKS BECKFORD PLAY LEAD WITH SMART WATERLOO REGION INNOVATION LAB