Empowerment Stream 2023 Impact Report
Executive Summary
The Youth Empowerment Stream 2023 provided $185,000 in funding to 37 Indigenous youthled projects and initiatives in nine provinces and territories. The focus of this stream was on supporting new and emerging micro-projects, including new groups leading projects for the first time. Over four funding intakes, Creation received a total of 72 applications, representing a request for $408,000 in funding
Projects funded through the Youth Empowerment Stream centred on connection. Grantees provided opportunities for youth to access cultural and traditional knowledge, while also building relationships with each other and with their communities. As a result, youth reported feeling more empowered, as well as more connected both to their cultures and to their communities. Youth leaders were flexible; adjusting overall project plans, rescheduling activities, and finding alternative programming spaces as necessary to accommodate youth leader capacity, facilitator availability, and participant needs. They also increased their skills in communication and collaboration, and sought community support to ensure they could overcome challenges with accessing programming spaces and youth engagement.
Grantees saw success in empowering youth, which contributed to increases in youth confidence, youth engagement, and youth leadership. Youth leaders reported that funding from the Youth Empowerment Stream enabled them to deliver impactful programming with ongoing impacts Grantees reported seeing ripple effects in their communities because of their projects, such as participants taking on leadership roles or becoming mentors for other youth. Multiple grantees also said that they intend to continue their programming past the end of their grant period, with several groups sharing that they have already secured additional funding to develop their projects into sustainable, long-term community initiatives
Quantitative Results Regional Representation of Groups
INSIGHTS
37 Indigenous youth-led projects received funding
27% of all funded projects were based in On-Reserve communities
30% of grantees were in Ontario
Quantitative Results
% Stream Funding Amount by Budget Item Category
Project Supplies
Honoraria (Youth)
food
Honoraria (all others)
salaries
project activities administration
travel contracts accommodations technology communications
INSIGHTS
30% of funding went towards Project Supplies
29% of funding was used to provide Youth and Community Members with Honoraria
Nearly 1/10 of all funding was used for Salaries
*Percentages based on the 31 grantees that completed their final reports Six grantees did not complete this section
Quantitative Results
Top 5 Activity Session Themes
1/4
*Percentages based on the 31 grantees that completed their final reports Six grantees did not complete this section