Youth “Vision of Innovation for Community Empowerment” (Youth VOICE)

Overview of the Youth “Vision of Innovation for Community Empowerment” (Youth VOICE) program:

Youth VOICE grants are available for innovative projects or activities that are initiated, led, and organized by young students currently enrolled in Grades 7-12 in a school within the Greater Edmonton area (including Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, Parkland County, Leduc County and First Nations communities within this same geographic area). Innovation is defined as new or modified approaches that have not been previously used in the community. This grant program supports projects that see or try things from a different perspective.

Benefits of the Youth “Vision of Innovation for Community Empowerment” (Youth VOICE) program:

• The grants will fund projects up to $5,000.

Eligibility criteria of the Youth “Vision of Innovation for Community Empowerment” (Youth VOICE) program:

• These grants are for youth teams who wish to innovate and change their community. Teams include two or more students, who can apply for up to $5,000 for an innovative youth-led project that:
• Raises awareness of a community issue,
• Addresses a community need,
• Or resolves an identified challenge in the community.
• The projects must be endorsed by a school (through the online application) and involve a community partner that provides other types of support including (but not limited to): financial resources, materials, equipment, talents, expertise, or mentorship.
• Projects should raise awareness for a community-based issue and aim to resolve the identified problem. Projects are to be youth led and organized with the support of the school and community partner(s).