“…Despite caring more than ever before, so many young people remain ill-equipped to effectively do anything about the problems they see.” Social entrepreneur, author, and lecturer at the Stanford Program on Social Entrepreneurship, Kathleen Kelly Janus, recently shared this in an article that reflects on the need to equip young people with the skills to be leaders in social change. This trend calls those in the field of social innovation and peacebuilding to action to provide guidance and learning opportunities for this generation of changemakers.
Kindred Credit Union’s Peace Innovators Scholarship & Mentoring Program meets this need through a year-long program that supports students entering their final year of high school through mentorship and seed funding for ideation, networking, learning, and implementing solutions to social problems. The program is designed to animate young leaders who seek to address issues in their community that they are passionate about. Over the course of the year, high school students across Ontario have the opportunity to engage with the world of social innovation and implement their peacebuilding idea. At the end of the year, the experience culminates in an event or campaign for participants to champion their cause and a final showcase for them to share about their learning opportunities.
This past August, the program’s newest cohort of grade 12 students participated in a kick-off retreat at the
This year’s participants are eager to implement peacebuilding ideas that address mental wellness and challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. With their passion for these social issues, coupled with mentorship from their teachers, these students are bound to make positive impact in their communities as they develop their initiatives. Katie Gingerich, founder of The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) and lead mentor of the Peace Innovators Program, shares the youth’s excitement for the coming year. "This cohort of participants is fervently vibrant and compassionate. I'm thrilled to journey with these inspiring youth this year!” Katie expressed.
The Centre for Peace Advancement looks forward to supporting this group of students in their innovation journey and is excited to see the participant’s progress in November when they meet to continue crafting their innovative peacebuilding plans.
To stay up-to-date with the progress and impact these young leaders are making throughout this experience, follow the CPA and The Ripple Effect Education on Twitter, or subscribe to the CPA’s monthly e-newsletter.
To find out more about the Peace Innovators Program, please contact Amy Zavitz for information.