Sixteen aspiring changemakers from across southern Ontario gathered at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo this August to kick off the 2025-26 Peace Innovators Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Hosted by The Ripple Effect Education in partnership with Kindred Credit Union and the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, the retreat marked the start of a 10-month journey where students learn how to implement peace and justice-focused ideas in their schools and communities.
The Peace Innovators Program invites high school students to identify a social justice challenge they are passionate about and design a project that addresses it. For the first time, applications this year were open to students entering grade 10, as well as 11 and 12, creating a cohort that includes both younger students beginning their leadership journey and older students preparing to enter university. By the end of the program year, each participant will have launched an event, initiative, or program to create positive change.
This year’s innovators are working on a wide variety of projects that reflect the creativity and compassion of this cohort of youth leaders. Their initiatives include starting a public youth debate club, offering financial literacy education, and providing support for youth facing mental health challenges. Others are creating community-based basketball programs, offering free nutritious meals in schools, developing accessible and affordable tutoring, bridging connections between youth and socially isolated seniors, supporting youth affected by eating disorders, protecting monarch butterfly populations, and empowering young Christians to take action in their communities.
Each project demonstrates the potential of young people to respond to issues that matter most to them and their peers. The retreat introduced participants to a series of workshops that laid the foundation for their projects. Sessions covered identity, power, privilege, intersectionality, anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices, and self and community care. Teresa Edge, the Centre for Peace Advancement Coordinator, introduced systems thinking, helping students understand the larger dynamics impacting their chosen issues, while facilitators from Kindred Credit Union offered practical workshops on financial literacy and the role of financial institutions in community well-being. “It was inspiring to feel the Peace Innovators’ energy and see their insightful engagement as they identified elements impacting their issues,” said Teresa. “There was also a good sense of cohesion and mutual support between the students who come from different high schools. It’s hard to believe they’ve only just met!”
Over the next few months, the Peace Innovators will focus on research and connecting with community leaders as they begin developing their initiatives. With the support of mentors and peers, these young leaders are preparing to bring their ideas to life, proving that even in uncertain times, youth have the vision and courage to shape more peaceful communities. Make sure to check out The Ripple Effect Education’s Instagram page to follow along their journey!
