Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 Supported by Manulife Impact Report
Spirit of Kinship Collective - Black and Indigenous Wellness Program
Spirit of Kinship Collective - Black and Indigenous Wellness Program
Executive Summary The Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 was a partnership stream supported by Manulife. Partnership streams are externally funded by a partner who is interested in supporting projects in a particular region or community, or with a particular focus area. The Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 provided $73,000 in funding to 16 Indigenous youth-led projects focused on engaging youth in programming about health, wellness, and/or the land. Projects in this stream took place in one of five "Manulife Communities": Vancouver, British Columbia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Montreal, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario; and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Projects funded in the Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 stream focused on enhancing connections between youth, the land, their cultures, and their communities. Grantees provided youth with opportunities to access traditional and cultural knowledge, to learn through art, and to learn from each other through knowledge sharing and cultural exchange. Youth leaders reported that as youth strengthened their connections to their cultures and to the land, they also felt more connected to each other as well as to their broader communities. These shared experiences and opportunities for collective learning fostered a sense of belonging amongst youth participants, which also contributed to an increase in their well-being. Youth leaders worked with each other, with their participants, and with community leaders to navigate logistical challenges and achieve their project outcomes. Through their projects, grantees created safe and inclusive spaces and supported youth in building stronger connections to the land, their cultures, and their communities. As a result, youth reported an increase in their overall sense of well-being, an enhanced sense of community belonging, and an increase in youth empowerment. Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 Impact Report
Quantitative Results
Regional Representation of Groups $73,000 in funding was distributed
16 Indigenous youth-led projects received funding
%
Ontario
50%
Quebec
19%
Nova Scotia
19%
British Columbia
13%
1/3 of funded projects were located in Eastern Canada
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Workshops and spaces like these are so integral for our community! Miigwetch for hosting such a positive space like this to learn and connect with youth.
Participant, Spirit of Kinship Collective - Black and Indigenous Wellness Program
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Region
Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 Impact Report
Quantitative Results
% Stream Funding Amount by Budget Item Category* Budget Item Category
%
Project Supplies
32%
Salaries
16%
Honouraria (Youth)
15%
Honouraria (All Others)
15%
Travel
10% 5%
Food
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program
1/3 of funding was used to provide Honoraria to youth, Elders, and
Accommodations
4%
community members
Administration
3%
16% of funding was
Project Activities
<1%
Communications
<1%
used for Salaries
32% of funding went towards Project Supplies
*Percentages based on the 13 groups that have submitted their final reports so far. 3 groups have yet to complete their projects.
Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 Impact Report
Quantitative Results
Top 5 Activity Session Themes* Session Theme
% of Grantee Groups
% of All Sessions
Cultural Knowledge
38%
33%
Arts-Based Learning
31%
19%
Land-Based Learning
38%
15%
Cooking & Food
31%
13%
Ceremony
31%
8%
1/4 of all activities were Hunting and Fishing 36% of grantees ran Canoeing and Paddling activities
Participating in these cooking workshops has been a transformative experience. Not only have we learned valuable culinary skills, but we've also discovered the joys of healthy eating and the power of community. The sense of connection and creativity fostered through this project has been truly inspiring.
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*Percentages based on the 13 groups that have submitted their final reports so far. 3 groups have yet to complete their projects.
Participant, Hope For Community Development.
Youth and Community Wellness Grant 2024 Impact Report
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program