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Start the Conversation.
Featured on
Start the Conversation.
One Conversation Away from
Hope
YouthSpeak is a performance-based charity working with youth in schools.
One Conversation Away from Hope
YouthSpeak is a performance-based charity working with youth in schools.
Hope isn’t just a feeling; it’s a first step to connection.
For youth navigating today’s world, that connection starts with a personal story.
Everyone has a youth in their life.
From parents and teachers to neighbours and mentors, we all have a stake in the well-being of the next generation. When we empower one young person, we strengthen the community for all.
Our partnerships are built on this shared responsibility.
Your Partnership Empowers Youth
By joining us, you are investing in a proven, youth-led model that turns personal stories into community-wide impact.
1. Meaningful Employment for Equity-Deserving Youth
Your investment allows us to provide meaningful employment to young people with lived experiences with mental health, bullying, racism and online issues that are prevalent today.
2. Quality Skill Development, Training and Coaching
We provide youth with professional leadership and peer-support skills to become trained Youth Facilitators. They facilitate trauma and DEl-informed conversations within in-person and virtual presentations.
3. Creating Validated Spaces of Belonging in Classrooms
By sharing their personal stories, Youth Facilitators don’t just ‘present’ coping strategies-they validate the experiences of the youth they connect with; breaking down stigma and creating a safe space for every young person to feel a sense of belonging.
4. Direct, Scalable Investment in Local Communities
We build transparent, reciprocal feedback loops with all members of our communities. This commitment to ongoing learning ensures we are constantly improving our unique youth-centred/data-driven model and maximizing our shared impact.
FAQs
Why does the "for-youth-by-youth" model work?
This peer-to-peer approach is the foundation of our ability to connect and provide hope – something that is needed during these current times more than ever. At the core of our work are the personal stories by trained Youth Facilitators who have lived experience with the challenges that youth are facing today. This shared experience creates a safe space where youth feel seen and heard, making conversations relatable, reducing stigma and building a bridge for youth to access resources when needed.
What sets YouthSpeak apart from others?
Personal stories by young people for young people fosters hope and connection. What is most unique about our programs is that we use a youth-centred / data-driven model. Youth Facilitators develop program content based on their lived experience, acquired knowledge and through thousands of conversations with youth each year when they are in schools and community groups. Research and our program evaluation are accessed to inform program development; which consistently show that youth are more likely to listen to, trust, and adopt coping strategies when shared by a peer who truly understands.
What does my sponsorship support?
A: Sponsorships typically support the training of Youth Facilitators and their development and delivery of our Mental Health and Inclusivity programs. We invest considerable time into building a team of Youth Facilitators who represent diverse equity-deserving communities for this meaningful employment opportunity; including ongoing training and coaching through formal sessions with experts in the field.
How will my sponsorship be recognized?
Our sponsors, funders and donors are a major lifeline for our organization. We are extremely appreciative of their generosity, and we do everything we can to recognize them. We work with the specific sponsor to build a recognition plan this is most meaningful for them which may includes:
- Logo included on YouthSpeak website home page
- On PowerPoint presentation at assemblies
- On social media – Twitter, LinkedIN, Instagram, Facebook
- Media opportunities as available
- Photo Op
- Youth Speakers at a corporate event
- Complimentary workshop for employees (corporate workshop topics include: Understanding Youth Mental Health; Inclusivity; Anti-Racism; Anti-Homophobia
How does a strategic partnership with YouthSpeak work?
We work closely with sponsors to develop an agreement that is mutually beneficial, beginning with an initial meeting to discuss the various value-add aspects of the partnership and the parameters, timelines etc.
Can our partnership focus on a specific region or topic?
Absolutely, if a sponsor has a specific region or community they want to direct their support towards or a specific topic from amongst our list of topics that is important to them, we will work with them to ensure their contribution is directly supporting these areas of interest.
What metrics do you track for success?
We have a reach of over 437,000 youth and caring adults. We track a number of metrics including:
- Total number of presentations provided each year
- Total number of students/youth and caring adults reached each year
- Through pre and post questions during presentations, we measure impact of the content on learning and change in attitude
- Number of students/youth who are connected to resources as a direct outcome of the presentation
- Topics and regions
Following presentations, we collect feedback from educators and service providers on the effectiveness of the various aspects of the presentations. As well, repeat bookings and our longevity and our extensive reach is an important indicator of impact.
Thank you for the ongoing support of our Current Donors, Sponsors & Community Partners
(please note: if you have donated and do not see your name/logo on the list, we are continually updating this list)
Help Build a youth-led movement for resilience.
Your investment supports our “For Youth, By Youth” model, transforming youth with lived experience into professionally trained speakers and advocates. You are providing them with a career and providing thousands of students with a lifeline.