in your community!
YCI’s Youth Climate Leadership Program provides young people in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), aged 19-25, the opportunity to grow leadership skills, network with peers and create climate action initiatives in their communities.
Now recruiting for the summer program!
YCI’s 6-month Youth Climate Leadership Program is designed to support young people to become Climate Leaders and lead a team of peers to create and catalyze community-based climate action projects that make a positive impact.
on youth mobilization, project design and community development as well as climate science and traditional knowledge.
with access to exclusive resources including customized coaching, mentorship, peer to peer and funding support.
of hundreds of youth and change-makers across the GTHA to learn with and support each other to make an impact in your communities.
MEET OUR CLIMATE LEADERS
Click on the Leaders below to learn more about their climate accelerator initiatives.
Thalia
Nikita
Jenny
Miranda
Taylor
Aliyah
Alexandria
Kanishka
Jaden
Jill-Anne
Afreen
Jasia
Ayesha
Rosemary
Liz
Divya
Amanda
LiamCatalyze a community-based climate action project as a YCI Climate Leader. Climate Leaders receive comprehensive training on designing and growing sustainable, climate-focused projects, youth mobilization and community development as well as climate science and traditional ecological knowledge. Climate Leaders also receive customized coaching and mentorship in addition to access to peer to peer and financial support to help create their climate solutions.
Through the Youth Climate Leadership Program, Climate Leaders will mobilize other like-minded young people to grow the impacts of their projects to drive change in their communities.
Am I the right fit?
You’ll fit right in if you:
- You want to make a real impact on climate change in your community.
- Want to learn and grow climate action leadership skills.
- Are excited about engaging other like-minded young people to take action.
Am I eligible to apply for this program?
- You’re 19-25 years old.
- You live in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA).
- You want to build your leadership skills, engage with other youth and design a climate action project to create positive change in your community.
How do I apply for the leadership program?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. Successful applicants will be contacted within 2 weeks to schedule an interview. Apply early and don’t miss the chance to participate in this unique program and join our Climate Action Network.
Do I need to have a pre-existing project or project idea to apply
No, you do not need to have an established project or project idea to apply. To be eligible, you need to show passion and commitment to growing leadership skills and creating a positive impact through engaging your community in climate action.
What is the time commitment?
The first phase of the program requires the most commitment as there will be 4 half-day virtual sessions over a 2-month period. . After this, there will be 2-4 hours of training (synchronous and asynchronous learning) a week. In addition to structured training sessions, participants are expected to dedicate time outside of training to iterate and implement your climate action project. This time commitment can vary based on your own scheduling capacities and the scope of your climate solution. Participants are expected to invest at least 5 hours a week to pursue their climate solution.
How do I get access to funding?
You will access funds through a grant proposal process which will be evaluated on a set of criteria and approved by YCI before funds are administered.
How are you defining a climate action project?
A climate action project can be broadly defined to address, whether directly or indirectly, the causes, inputs and/or symptoms of climate change.
Can I participate as a team?
Your participation in the program will primarily be as an individual. The program invests in both your personal leadership and your project. However, YCI encourages and will provide opportunities for you to engage others in your project and in the program. Some programming may be made available to your broader team, if applicable.
I see that part of the program is about engaging other young people in the design or implementation of my climate action project. What is the requirement for engaging other youth?
Your participation in the program will primarily be as an individual. The program invests in both your personal leadership and your project. However, there will be opportunities for you to engage others in your project and in the program. Some programming may be made available to your broader team, if applicable.
Each participant is expected to engage a minimum of 2-6 other young people in their project in some way. Engagement can range from recruiting team members to help design your project, consulting with youth on solution design or engaging youth in spreading awareness of and/or access to your solution. The purpose of the program is to harness the potential of youth to drive positive climate action. YCI encourages many different forms of youth engagement to achieve this.
How will the program adhere to social distancing measures?
The Youth Climate Leadership Program has adapted to operate in a virtual context as long as necessary and will adhere to all recommendations and social distancing measures advised by local and national health authorities. Our training, meetings and team collaborations will occur virtually until gatherings of small and large groups are appropriate. All climate action projects will be designed with social distancing measures considered.
While we can’t be together face-to-face, climate action momentum must continue. We will work together to design creative community-based climate solutions while keeping safe.
– YCI Climate Action Network member
Innovate MY Future!