BridgingTheGap Welcomes Inaugural Canadian Delegation for Younga 2023, the Largest Global Festival for Impact
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Toronto, September 28, 2023 – Youth across Canada have been selected to join the first-ever official Canadian Delegation for YOUNGA 2023—the largest global festival for impact. Funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a Government of Canada initiative, this unique delegate program engages, equips and empowers over 120 young leaders ages 13-30 from underrepresented communities across the country to turn their ideas into action and make a positive impact for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The experience begins with a free, virtual six-week bespoke leadership development and advocacy training program where Delegates have access to live mastermind workshops, policy working groups and interactive opportunities with industry experts including UN officials, executive leaders and decision-makers.
Over the months that follow, these young Canadians will be supported to launch youth-led service projects in their communities to advance a cause they’re passionate about, that will contribute to Canada’s 2030 Agenda and inspire localized solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable nation. Collectively through civic engagement, innovation and upskilling activities, the YOUNGA Canadian Delegation will contribute over 14,000 hours to the betterment of themselves and their communities.
“The Government of Canada is empowering our future leaders through investments in youth-led projects in key areas like leadership, communications and teamwork that will not only benefit them now but also equip them with valuable skills for their future careers. Thanks to supports like Canada Service Corps funding, young Canadians will play a pivotal role in transforming their dreams into concrete actions, making meaningful contributions to help build a stronger Canada while advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
– The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister of Women, Gender Equality and Youth
“The Government of Canada is empowering our future leaders through investments in youth-led projects in key areas like leadership, communications and teamwork that will not only benefit them now but also equip them with valuable skills for their future careers. Thanks to supports like Canada Service Corps funding, young Canadians will play a pivotal role in transforming their dreams into concrete actions, making meaningful contributions to help build a stronger Canada while advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
– The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister of Women, Gender Equality and Youth
“Canada’s 2030 Agenda requires a collective effort—one that inspires solutionists across sectors, nations and generations,” shares Kelly Lovell, CEO of BridgingTheGap Ventures and Founding Global Chair of YOUNGA. “BridgingTheGap celebrates how youth are practicing leadership and engaging in service to preserve the environment and build an inclusive nation.”
Critical to this project and BridgingTheGap’s efforts is inclusive innovation—bridging the skills gap by intentionally engaging participants from underrepresented and underserved communities including Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, 2SLGBTQI+, people with disabilities, people with mental health challenges and/or mental illness, young women, low-income persons, people who are underemployed/unemployed, neurodiverse people, refugees, migrants and immigrants.
“It’s so important to provide young people with meaningful opportunities for skill development, experiential learning and mentorship,” says Jaclyn Stief, Director of Programming and Global Policy at BridgingTheGap Ventures. “With the support of the Government of Canada, we’ll be empowering young Canadians—particularly those who are currently underserved—to be better prepared for the future of work, advance their social impact and contribute to the needs of their local communities.”
As national representatives, delegates will be afforded the opportunity to represent Canadian
youth in global forums. Together with YOUNGA 2023 Global Youth Delegates, decision-makers,
UN leaders and celebrity advocates around the world, the Canadian Delegation will co-create
solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable future—shaping policy recommendations on the
issues that affect their futures the most. YOUNGA gives young people a platform to ensure their
ideas, hopes and concerns are recognized and acted upon as well as a peer community to
support them moving forward.
As national representatives, delegates will be afforded the opportunity to represent Canadian
youth in global forums. Together with YOUNGA 2023 Global Youth Delegates, decision-makers,
UN leaders and celebrity advocates around the world, the Canadian Delegation will co-create
solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable future—shaping policy recommendations on the
issues that affect their futures the most. YOUNGA gives young people a platform to ensure their
ideas, hopes and concerns are recognized and acted upon as well as a peer community to
support them moving forward.
Join the global conversation on social media by following #YOUNGA2023,
@BridgingTheGapX and @YOUNGA on Instagram, and @BridgingTheGapX on X (Twitter)
and TikTok!
For media inquiries contact [email protected]
About YOUNGA
Organized by BridgingTheGap Ventures, YOUNGA® is the largest global festival for impact. Using mixed reality, YOUNGA unites young people with decision-makers to co-create solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable world during the United Nations Decade of Action from 2020 to 2030. Since its inception, YOUNGA has united 290+ global partners, connected young people with 200+ high-level leaders—including senior UN officials, celebrity advocates and policymakers—and upskilled over 5,500 Youth Delegates across 170+ countries.
About BridgingTheGap
Organized by BridgingTheGap Ventures, YOUNGA® is the largest global festival for impact. Using mixed reality, YOUNGA unites young people with decision-makers to co-create solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable world during the United Nations Decade of Action from 2020 to 2030. Since its inception, YOUNGA has united 290+ global partners, connected young people with 200+ high-level leaders—including senior UN officials, celebrity advocates and policymakers—and upskilled over 5,500 Youth Delegates across 170+ countries.
