Deadline: 31-May-23
We Matter has launched the #IndigenousYouthRise Support fund to support Indigenous youth and promote community wellness.
The #IndigenousYouthRise Support Fund provides Indigenous youth in Canada ages 13 to 30 with funding up to $1500 so that they are able to start a project to support Indigenous youth or communities.
There are many different projects that you can organize for your community with examples such as:
- Art based workshops & gatherings (beading, drumming, painting, weaving, carving, poetry, music, etc.) Concerts, talent shows or performances
- Educational webinars (Indigenous medicines, mental health, cultural teachings, language, Indigenous youth perspectives, etc.)
- Storytelling, or video projects
- Care packages (colouring kits, spa kits, smudging kits, beading kits, cooking kits)
- Community games, challenges & contests (social media, charades, scavenger hunts, IQ games, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, jigging, powwow, virtual sports, etc.)
- Indigenous youth advocacy (roundtables on specific issues, panel discussions, etc.)
- Skill and knowledge development training or courses (leadership, mental health training, masterclasses, etc.
Funding Information
- Funding up to $1500.
Eligible Expenses
- Examples of Eligible Expenses:
- Project materials needed, such as: beads, art supplies, wood, traditional materials, etc.
- Honorariums, gifts, and offerings for people who are sharing their skills and expertise like elders, presenters, trainers, and traditional knowledge holders (hunters, craftspeople, etc)
- Care package items (essential items, traditional items, self-care items, etc.)
- Promotion and advertising of the project
- Small door prizes and other incentives for youth and participants, such as swag items, gifts or grocery cards
- Video conference subscriptions costs for trainings and knowledge development
Eligibility Criteria
- Any Indigenous youth between the ages of 13 and 30 years of age are eligible to apply. Youth under the age of 20 will need a helper who is over the age of 20 (parent, sibling, relative, or community member) that will share the responsibility of:
- Ensuring that the money is spent correctly;
- Providing proof that the event happened;
- Submitting a project summary
- If you are 20 years old or older, they do not require you to have a helper, however you will be responsible for the same 3 things.
- Projects need to be Indigenous youth-led, start to finish!
- All local, community, provincial/territorial and federal public health policies must be followed – be safe!
- Projects cannot be for individuals – they must involve and support groups of youth, at least 5 or more (or even the whole community) to come together or support mental health in some way. Examples of individual projects are: Podcasts, paying for personal lessons, paying for personal items, etc.
- Individuals / Schools / Communities / Groups can apply for ONE grant at a time.
- Once you finish your project, you are welcome to apply again for a new project, but your reports and receipts must be submitted from previous projects first. You can also apply to do your original project again!
- You do not need a non-profit number or anything special to apply – you just need to show them you’re able to lead the project.
- If your project has been approved, you will need to sign an agreement & waiver with We Matter.
- If you’d like to answer the application questions through a video, or over the phone, they can arrange that. Let them know how they can support you!
For more information, visit We Matter.