Through Youth Challenge International’s Innovate MY Future program, GTHA youth, aged 16-24, collaborate in local teams to tackle climate issues and design community-based projects to make an impact.
ABOUT INNOVATE MY FUTURE
Gain skills through experiential climate and design-thinking training and workshops and be eligible for accessibility support, grant funding and more.
Partner with like-minded youth to design and implement a climate action project that makes a real impact in your community.
Connect with 300+ youth and change-makers across the GTHA to learn with and support each other to amplify impact in your communities.
Meet local experts and policy makers to understand your community’s unique climate needs and build youth-led solutions.
Network with influential partners, municipalities and local youth while gaining real-world experience.
Innovate MY Future training sessions
Team & Professional Skills Building
Learn and refine key skills such as communication, collaboration and task management.
Project Design Jam: Understand and Empathize
Learn about breaking down problems, gathering insights and exploring the opportunity space.
Project Design Jam: Defining Innovative Solutions
Discover design thinking strategies to reframe your problem statement and opportunity ideas.
Project Design Jam: Ideation and Brainstorming
Explore brainstorming techniques to come up with creative project ideas to address your problem statement.
Project Design Jam: Pitch Prep
Refine your project idea and prepare to pitch your solution to your community partner.
Project Management Skills Building
Learn the basics of project management including planning, executing and monitoring your initiative.
Special Topics and Guest Speakers
May include topics such as Policy Change and Advocacy, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Eco-Anxiety and Wellness, Project Sustainability and Funding Pathways + more!
Be the first to know about Innovate MY Future updates and how to get involved!
MEET YCI’S
CLIMATE ACTION CATALYSTS
Click on Catalyst teams below to learn more about their innovative climate action projects.
Current Leaders 
EcoBorough 
905 Green Team 
Sustainable Durham 
Green Recovery 
Greenmark 
Climactivate 
Fashion for Futures 
Halton Youth Collective 
The Renewables 
Green Linings 
Get Re-Used To It 
Green Undertaking 
Secure the Food Mississauga 
Waste Watchers 
A Better Tomorrow 
The Urban Retrofit 
Youth Roots Durham Region 
Green Power Vaughan 
That's the TEA 
Sustainable Scarberians 
Climate ChangeHERS 
Eco-lutionary: Friends of the River Mouth 
Project RenYOUables 
Greener Spaces 
Food Fighters GTA 
Green Skyline 
Halton Hustlers 
The Peel Halton Climate Collective 
The Sustainable 6ix 
Change for Transit (C4T) 
Environmental Community of Hamilton Students (ECHS) 
Earth Ambassadors 
Hestia’s Hope 
Making Waves 
CanSustain 
Seedlings 
Catalysts of Change THE LATEST
Check out what's happening:
Youth Challenge International and Evergreen are virtually hosting hundreds of youth in a digital Youth Action Summit, and you’re invited
YCI’s commitment to climate action expands with a new solutions accelerator program
Promoting gender inclusivity in STEM through Innovate ME
Protecting Gabon’s Forests: Striking a Balance between Development and Deforestation
Starting your once in a lifetime journey overseas
News Archive
Home of all YCI news
Working in collaboration
Inspiring today’s young climate leaders and innovators
About Innovate MY Future
What do Climate Action Catalysts commit to as part of the Innovate MY Future program?
This is an 8-month volunteer program with participants volunteering approximately 4 hours a week to attend virtual training sessions, collaborate with peers, conduct research and implement climate action projects.
KEY PROGRAM DATES:
- Virtual training sessions in July to September
- Climate action project implementation from October to February
- Final Climate Action Catalyst Summit event in February 2022
How can I apply to be a Climate Action Catalyst?
Apply online on our website. You are invited to submit your answers in the “about you” section in a short video or you can fill out your answers in the form provided. Successful applicants will be invited to a short interview via Zoom.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so be sure to apply early to secure your spot in the Innovate MY Future program.
How can I volunteer in my community safely with social distancing measures?
The Innovate MY Future 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 health authorities. Our trainings, 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 action projects while keeping safe.
Innovate MY Future!