February 10, 2025 Windsor, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Young people are building the Canada of today and of tomorrow, and the Government of Canada is creating new opportunities so they can foster their skills. Through the Canada Service Corps (CSC), youth are becoming part of the culture of service that helps equip them with meaningful skills and experience, while also empowering them to make an impact in their communities.
Today, the honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Windsor - Tecumseh announced approximately $2 million in funding to Black Kids in Action Performing Art Group for their Investing in our Youth to Champion Success for the Future project for the next two fiscal years.
The Investing in our Youth to Champion Success for the Future project will engage and empower 240 Black youth in Ontario to create, own and accomplish micro-grant projects on their own and to give back to their communities through volunteer work. The project is an opportunity to recruit youth volunteers and help improve the social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities across the province. This project will help youth participants carry out community service projects and enable them to develop skills such as leadership, planning and budgeting with the goal of delivering their innovations to their community.
The project is part of the nearly $200 million investment from the Government of Canada to fund 85 projects as part of the CSC. As a result, over the next three years, up to 20,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 30 will benefit from new CSC-funded volunteer service opportunities across the country.
These interesting and engaging projects will offer youth, including those from Indigenous and under-served populations, unique volunteer service opportunities focused on reconciliation, inclusivity, environmental preservation, civic and democratic engagement, and resilience.
The CSC call for proposals received a strong response from organizations across Canada, with an unprecedented number of applications submitted. This enthusiasm reflects that the program is meeting a need and desire across Canada to help young people gain the skills and experiences they need to thrive and contribute to the growth of our economy.
CSC is a program that gives youth opportunities to practice leadership, learn new skills, and grow their personal and professional networks. Through community-focused volunteer service opportunities, youth gain valuable experience that can help them discover their strengths and motivate them to further their education or transition to the labour market. Since it began in 2018, CSC has enabled thousands of young people to gain new experiences, develop their skills, and broaden their networks.
Youth who want to apply for a CSC-funded volunteer service opportunity can visit Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps. New opportunities are added and updated regularly.
