Quick calls were made, and pretty soon there was funding to make the challenge viable. Three youth were engaged to get the word out and make the challenge real. They worked together with volunteer mentors and judges to see Year 1 through to a contest where almost 600 participants from eight provinces came forward with brilliant plans to start businesses or not-for-profits with positive environmental or social impacts. 2021 saw over 300 more youth participate from even more parts of the country.

​​

By 2022, the momentum had grown. Word of the Youth Impact Challenge was spreading across high schools, universities, and community organizations. Youth from coast to coast, from urban centres to remote communities, stepped forward with bold, creative ideas. That year, projects tackled everything from food insecurity and Indigenous language preservation to low-waste beauty and upcycled fashion. The Challenge became more than just a competition.

​

In 2023, the YIC community expanded even further. Alumni began mentoring new teams. Winning projects found their way into incubators, grant programs, and even news features. The Climate Change-Makers Hackathon was also born.

​

By 2024, YIC had funded and mentored over 250 youth-led initiatives, with projects creating immeasurable social and/or environmental impact. The Challenge had evolved into a trusted platform.

​

2025 is an even greater opportunity as we begin year 6 of YIC.

​

Although the pandemic is in a different phase today, the need for positive solutions and support for collaboration among smart young people is as urgent as ever. The goal is that the Challenge should become an annual program and that we will involve more youth, and foster more great solutions for our planet and its people. And since starting, one thing has been clear: more than ever, we need innovative young changemakers collaborating on positive, game-changing ideas.

 

We need to hear your ideas.