Deadline: 31-Jan-22
The Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) is offering grants through its Youth Empowerment Stream grant program to support emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement and wellness of youth.
CRE strongly encourages applicants to start in the Spout phase with a new idea and then grow into the Blossom phase. CRE will only fund new and emerging groups in Youth Empowerment Streams. Projects must be led by 2+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29). Grantees and youth will receive innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities throughout the project.
Project Focus Areas
Projects should focus on providing programming, training or capacity building opportunities for Indigenous youth. These examples do not include every type of project that they would fund:
- Programs for youth to participate in recreational, wellness and/or arts-based programming
- Cultural programming, including ceremonies, teaching circles and land-based activities
- Peer-led circles where youth can build relationships and participate in online activities
- Intergenerational programs, that provide youth opportunities to work with Elders, parents, families, children, etc
- Programs that increase youth leadership skills
- Professional development programs for members of a youth council/organization to increase their knowledge about organizational governance
- Projects that target making resources (such as mental health services) safer and more accessible
Pathways
There are two ways to enter the Blossom stream:
- Pathway One: Applicants who have received funding in either the Youth Empowerment – Sprout stream, the general Youth Empowerment Stream or through the Community Support Fund, can apply to expand and grow their project. Your group fits this criteria if they have received funding from CRE before, but the total amount of funding received was less than $10,000.
- Pathway Two: Applicants who do not meet the Pathway One criteria can apply as long as they meet the following criteria:
- Group has not received any funding from CRE;
- Group has an annual operating budget of $50,000 or less; and
- Group and/or project is a new and emerging initiative.
Funding Information
The Youth Empowerment Stream – Blossom will provide small grants of up to $5,000 to youth-led projects happening in urban, rural and remote communities across Canada.
Eligibility Criteria
- CREation will only fund grassroots Indigenous youth groups consisting of a minimum of 2 youth.
Note: for the purpose of this program, CRE defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off reserve.
- Eligible groups and projects include:
- Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups/collectives/councils comprised primarily of Indigenous youth
- Emerging, incorporated youth groups (note: CRE defines “emerging” as groups that have an operating budget of less than $50,000)
- Projects must serve primarily serve Indigenous youth
For more information, visit https://canadianroots.ca/programs/creation/