Youth make up 22% of the Waterloo population, however they are not adequately represented on Boards. According to Statistics Canada, at the local level, 65.8% of non-profit organizations report serving youth populations, however the median age of board members is 50 to 54.

Furthermore, the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region’s 2021 Youth Impact Survey found that 35.9% of youth surveyed felt a weak sense of belonging to the community. Opportunities for youth to be heard, valued, and included in the decisions that impact their lives would improve their sense of connection and inclusion in the community.

Interviews with Board members from the Child Witness Centre revealed that they had challenges in engaging youth in their organization: it is difficult to recruit them, they have poor training and have few opportunities to find it, and resources on the benefits of engaging youth on Boards are not readily available.

This project aims to train, coach, mentor and match youth with Boards that match their interests and directly serve the community. By becoming involved in Boards, youth will be able to offer their perspectives to directly solve the issues that most concern them. Youth-serving organizations will receive improved tools and skills in understanding and addressing issues that youth are concerned about. Further, youth involvement in Governance training will help frame solutions through a youth-centered lens, especially in governance approaches and frameworks. Youth and Boards will then be confident in their ability to work together to solve the issues that most concern them.