Kinga Nolan: Concussion Connect

Kinga Nolan from Alberta creates concussion resource website for Canadian youth

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT

My project was to create a website with concussion resources for Canadian youth. This site helps provide local information so individuals can find the support they need to cope through the effects of a concussion. View the site here.

TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

I reached out to peers who I know have sustained brain injuries and had them contribute their ideas and knowledge to the project. Furthermore, this project has provided volunteer opportunities to other Duke of Ed participants as I have enabled them as editors to help add content. This way they are able to volunteer for a meaningful cause while completing their Duke of Ed service component. ​

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

My project is engaging youth and adults across Canada who have sustained head injuries. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

My biggest success was finally seeing this project come to fruition. This was an idea that I have had for three years and it was a big accomplishment to have been granted funds and make this idea a reality. 

TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

With my website, I often struggled with organization. I had so many ideas for different content to add that a lot of my resources would get confusing or repetitive. I should have probably started my website by drawing some sort of idea map to track my ideas in order to avoid repetition but also organize my site in a fluid, cohesive way. Furthermore, website design is a completely new concept to me and therefore I am still learning. For example, I was prepared to provide analytics numbers for visitors in this project update, however I came to realize that this had to be set up separately and it is not automatic. As well, I am still struggling with the graphic design of my website to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. Moving forward, I would want to find a mentor who is able to give me insight and help in designing a website. 

Feeling more confident? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

Maya Bradshaw: Community Service Hiking Event

Maya Bradshaw from British Columbia leads multi-day Service Excursion event

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT

Service Excursions was a multi-day program that encouraged and got youth outdoors to provide service to the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society of Tumbler Ridge B.C. 


The main purpose of the project is to create a multi-purpose trip that fulfills multiple objectives. It is designed to get youth on board to plan and execute a trip, get youth outside, provide service to the Tumbler Ridge community by doing trail maintenance, as well as curating and building awareness of backcountry safety and skills (camp stove cooking, fire building, ax safety, trail finding, compass/map work, etc.)

TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

My mentor and I simply asked some participants to be a part of the planning process. This included food prep, gathering materials needed for our service jobs, and being involved in the planning process. I also had a peer on the trip who took pictures for us. 

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

There was a total of 15 participants because this event was a multi-day event and out of town. Some people could not attend. 

 

This project engaged youth from ages 14-19. Our group was able to complete quite a few maintenance tasks/jobs around Lost Haven Cabin in Tumbler Ridge BC! This also gave the youth a look into what hiking and camping are like. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

The biggest success achieved through this project was watching youth enjoy the outdoors while being of service to the Wolverine Mountain and Nordic Society. 

TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

I learned/confirmed that I love serving others, youth, and being in the outdoors. Next time I would make the event longer so we would have a chance to do trail maintenance on more than one hiking trail! 

Feeling more confident? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

Romina Mahinpei: University and College Fair

Romina Mahinpei from BC organizes a university and college fair for her peers

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT

In order to help prospective grade 11 students prepare for university applications in the fall season, we organized a University & College Fair followed by Alumni Presentations. For the fair, we had a total of 16 local post-secondary institutions attend our event and provide students with useful information as well as answers to their questions. For the Alumni Presentations, we had a total of 5 alumni give 5-10 minutes presentations on their university experience. In overall, our event helped students at my school prepare and get the information they need from university representatives. 

TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

I reached out to my fellow students in my Theory of Knowledge class and asked them if they would be willing to help organize the event. In total, I had two main leaders alongside myself and around 10 volunteers from the class. 

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

Our targeted audience was grade 10 and 11 students at our school. Through this project, we were able to help many students with figuring out the paths they would like take in the future well in advance, which also helps release their anxiety for the senior high school years. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

The biggest success was the Alumni Presentations. Our 5 speakers all had very different perspectives, which then allowed our participants to hear a range of views and opinions. They all did an amazing job providing students with honest feedback. When talking to our participants after the presentations, they all expressed their gratitude for the event and how amazing they thought the presentations were! 

TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

Through this project, we learned the importance of organization. In order to ensure a successful event, we had to create an organized schedule for all the different activities that had to take place throughout the day. We created a plan for the volunteers and the participants as well as a map for the event! 

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Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

Aditi Sivakumar: My Empowerment Packs (ME Packs)

Aditi Sivakumar from Ottawa produces My Empowerment Packs (ME Packs) to homeless youth in community, wins Diana Award 2019

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT

Through the Passion to Purpose $750 dollars grant, I was able to create “My Empowerment (ME) Packs” for youth facing homelessness in my community. Each “ME Pack contains” a backpack consisting of a blanket, granola bars, reusable water bottle, socks, hygiene kits (ex. Deodorant, shampoo, body wash etc.), band-aids, combs, and a “My Empowerment (ME) Resource Booklet” (A comprehensive resource booklet created by myself and a team of youth, and consists of a variety of resources homeless youth in the Ottawa region have access to). A copy of the resource booklet has been sent along with this report. Each “My Empowerment (ME) Pack” cost $50 to create, and in total fifteen “My Empowerment (ME) Packs” were created. The fifteen “My Empowerment Packs” were donated to the Youth Services Bureau, the largest and most comprehensive non-profit organization serving homeless youth in the Ottawa community.

TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

To involve youth in the service project, high school students in the community were recruited and asked to provide their opinions of what should be included in the “Me Empowerment Resource Booklet”. Two high school students also accompanied me to deliver the “My Empowerment Packs” at the youth shelter.  

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

In total, 30 individuals were engaged in the project including the staff at the Youth Shelter, the recipients of the “Me Empowerment Packs”, and the youths who helped create the “Me Empowerment Packs” and “My Empowerment Resource Booklets”. 

 

The target audience for the project was vulnerable, at-risk youth who were facing homelessness. The “My Empowerment Packs”, filled with needed supplies, were distributed to young people at the Youth Services Bureau downtown Drop-In Centre. The YSB Drop-In Centre provides critical programming and services to homeless, street-involved and high-risk youth in Ottawa. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

I have experienced numerous accomplishment highlights through the creation of “My Empowerment (ME) Packs.” Firstly, this was the first project that I not only envisioned, but constructed a grant proposal, and received significant funding for. Moreover, personally distributing the wellness kits and witnessing first-hand the joy it brought its new owners was a remarkable and touching experience. Furthermore, having non-profit organizations, schools, and community centres ask for the youth-specific local resource booklet allowed me to envision the large-scale impact this project can have on youth across the city. Founding and creating the “My Empowerment Packs” has led me to receive the 2019 Diana Award, the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work. The success of the “My Empowerment Packs” has led me to begin creating a similar initiative which will provide wellness kits to individuals residing in domestic violence shelters. 

TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT
In terms of challenges, creating a comprehensive resource booklet was more challenging and time consuming than initially expected. However, I am extremely proud of the final product, and I am confident that it will serve as a helpful resource for youth throughout the city.   

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

Melissa Tobin: The Sunshine Swim Camp

Melissa Tobin from Newfoundland organizes a swim camp for athletes with intellectual disabilities

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT

The Sunshine Swim Camp took place from May 10th to 12th in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. For my project I partnered with Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador to run a swim camp for athletes with intellectual disabilities and coaches from across the province. This camp was named in memory of my friend, Alyssa “Sunshine” Davis who passed away in December of 2015.  

There were three main objectives for this swim camp: 
 
1. Provide opportunities for youth with intellectual disabilities to be active and learn new skills 
2. Provide opportunities for youth to be engaged in their community through Special Olympics  
3. Teach coaches new swimming and coaching skills to help increase the quality of our Special Olympics swimming programs with an emphasis on rural communities 
 
The swim camp was a weekend long event with sessions taking place Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon. The athletes and coaches participated four swimming sessions, a dry land training session, a nutrition session, a goal setting session and a yoga session. The coaches had a dedicated coaching session to learn about coaching athletes with intellectual disabilities. 
 
I believe that my project was very successful. For the past six years, I have been volunteering with Special Olympics. Through my experiences as a coach, I have learned so much about teaching athletes with intellectual disabilities. I have also gained many skills including leadership, confidence, patience, empathy, and dedication. All of these skills have helped me tremendously in preparing myself for a future career. I wanted to do my part to provide more opportunities for youth to get involved in their community and learn new skills.  
 
Everybody who participated in the camp came home with lifelong memories and new friendships. All of the athletes learned new skills and improved tremendously over the weekend. Our coaches had the opportunity to learn in a safe inclusive environment about coaching athletes with disabilities. They learned specific swimming technique and coaching tips. The coaches learned about developing practice plans and incorporating other aspects of health and wellness into their programs. In addition, each coach went home with a binder of resources to share with their other coaches and athletes. 

TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

My peers played a huge role in making my vision for this project come to life. I started by recruiting three of my peers who coach in my Special Olympics swimming program. We had meetings to discuss ideas for the swim camp, plan the sessions and menu, order t-shirts and create the resource binder. I also recruited other peers to help with grocery shopping, preparing food and organizing the t-shirts and other camp materials. I reported regularly to Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador to update them on my progress with the swimming camp.  

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

A total of 50 people were engaged in my project. We had 18 youth athletes from five Special Olympics Clubs across the province attend. One of our clubs drove nine hours each way to attend the swim camp. Thirteen coaches and three respites from across the province attended and eleven of these people were youth. Eight volunteers helped with the registration, meals, snacks and supplies and four of these volunteers were youth. Four volunteers from local community organizations came to give presentations about goal setting, nutrition, yoga and dry land training. Myself and three other youth planned and coordinated the Sunshine Swim Camp. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT
My team created a safe and inclusive learning environment for all athletes and coaches. We saw a huge increase in coach knowledge and confidence throughout the weekend. Some of our coaches from rural communities were not comfortable in the water themselves and relied on videos to train their athletes. These coaches were so eager to learn and did exceptionally well throughout the weekend. Many of our youth coaches knew how to swim but were uncomfortable teaching athletes with intellectual disabilities. Our youth coaches did fantastic as well! We taught them how to break down a skill into small components. We taught them to use verbal and visual instructions to help all athletes understand. Our athletes had an incredibly successful weekend as well. We had athletes of all abilities at our swim camp and every athlete made huge strides throughout the weekend. All of the athletes improved their swimming skills, gained confidence and had fun. One of our athletes started to swim front crawl with her eyes in the water. This was a big milestone for her as she had been swimming with her head out of the water for a number of years. Another athlete learned how to do a flip turn which he had never been instructed to do before. One athlete from a rural community had never been to a Special Olympics event like this before. His family was so excited and proud to watch him interact with other athletes and learn to swim. As a coach, I was so proud to watch each, and every athlete learn something new. All of the coaches were patient and encouraging. I was asked to travel to some of our rural communities to deliver more camps for all of the athletes. I am really looking forward to continuing this project with my peers.
TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT
This swim camp was an incredible learning experience for me. I learned that there are so many people willing to help. I learned that you need to use these opportunities to build connections with the community. My project was a huge endeavor and next time, I would ask for more help from my peers. Sometimes it became stressful because there was so much to do to be prepared. I would start planning earlier to ensure that I had enough time to recruit more peers to help. Overall, I believe my project was a huge success and I am so grateful for this opportunity!
Melissa Tobin talks about her project and experiences during a panel discussion at Passion to Purpose Acadia 2019.

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

P2P Bootcamp 2020

Passion to Purpose
Bootcamp 2020

Kingsbridge Conference Centre
March 5-7, 2020

Equipping young Canadians with the tools they need to do something about the current issues that matter to them.

Duke Den Participants received a total amount of $100,000 for their scaleup projects

This March 2020, Passion to Purpose Bootcamp was held at Kingbridge Conference Centre, King, ON. The event brought 60 past forum participants from across Canada for an intensive bootcamp weekend. The event aimed to support young people by giving them industry knowledge to help them improve themselves and their projects. The workshop topics delve into self-improvement, marketing, branding, and communications.

 

One of the highlights of the weekend is the ‘Duke Den‘. Through the Duke Den, participants who have finished and completed a project with a Passion to Purpose Community Grant were able to pitch a scaleup project idea to top industry professionals. All scaleup participants were funded a total of $100,000 altogether.

 

If you would like to be invited to the next Bootcamp, be sure to sign-up for Passion to Purpose Forum and complete a project with Passion to Purpose Community Grant.

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

P2P Acadia 2019

Passion to Purpose
Acadia 2019

Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia | July 8 -13, 2019

Equipping young Canadians with the tools they need to do something about the current issues that matter to them.

In Their Own Words...

"This past week I’ve made the most incredible friends and I recognized that my passions are valid, and failure is okay. I’m excited for the incredible things coming in the next little while, but I’m ever so excited to know that our country is in the best hands with a group of leaders like these people."

Breana Andrews
P2P Acadia Alumni
Bronze Award Holder

Daily Themes

Finding your spark

Day one, participants were challenged to brainstorm how their project could benefit their community in a responsible and effective way.

Good Health and Wellbeing

Day two focused on the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, while promoting healthy activity and leadership within their communities.

The Fabric of Canada

Day three focused on the importance of insuring participants projects would instil the values of inclusivity, resilience and sustainability within your community.

Reduced Inequalities

The focus for day four was on the importance of reducing inequalities within Canada through innovative project ideas.

Giving Back and Moving Forward

Day five focused on the importance of conservation and sustainability. Participants spent the morning with an environmental clean-up and spent the afternoon completing their project plans and grant applications.

Throughout the week, participants had the pleasure of speaking with numerous highly skilled professionals, whose mission is to see them succeed in life – in whatever way they choose to define success. 

Passion to Purpose will help youth transform their passion into a purpose where they will be able to access grants of $250, $750, or $1,500 (new tiers: $500, $1,000 and $2,000) that will turn their passion into an action plan they can implement in their community. Young people felt very touched by their experience.

Participants were encouraged  to open their minds to the possibilities and the resources available to them as a young Canadian and citizen of the world.

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

P2P Regina 2018

Passion to Purpose
Regina 2018

University of Regina, Saskatchewan 
July 8 -13, 2019

Equipping young Canadians with the tools they need to do something about the current issues that matter to them.

In Their Own Words...

"P2P taught me that learning outside the classroom is just as important as learning inside. I tried so many new things while at P2P, all of which were fun and engaging.."

Dustin McKee
P2P Regina Alumni

Daily Themes

Find your spark

Day one, participants were challenged to brainstorm how their project could benefit their community in a responsible and effective way.

Discover you

Day two focused on finding ones strength and developing ideas.

Youth Mobilizing

Day three inspired participants to create a difference and impact even at a young age.

Show me the money

Day four focused on creating and developing project plans and budgets.

Embrace your story

Day five focused finding one's passion and using it to create a service-led community project.

Last August 2018, 100 young Canadians were a part of the very first Passion to Purpose, leadership forum that was held at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan.

 

It was an inspiring week for all participants as they worked to turn their passion into an action plan that they will implement into their community. 

 

Each day began with a Duke Talk from speakers who are change-makers in their own communities.

 

Workshops and outdoor activities supplemented the schedule, inspiring and building the participants’ confidence. 

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!

Hannah Jackson: Pics 4 Passion

Hannah Jackson from Nova Scotia creates a mental health photobook

TELL US ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF YOUR PROJECT
My project included travelling throughout the province photographing individuals who struggle with mental health. Along with the photographs I interviewed them and learned more about their stories and why they were willing to share them. When I finished collecting the images and stories I compiled them all into a book that is being used a resources and conversation starter. Each person who was in the book had an option to get a copy of it. Those who chose to have been sharing it throughout the communities and in-result having some powerful conversations and brain storming sessions on how they can help each other. The book has also been given to Members of Parliament and they are using it to raise awareness while in Ottawa.
TELL US HOW YOU RECRUITED AND INVOLVED YOUR PEERS IN THE PROJECT

I used word of mouth and social media ads. Mainly on Facebook.

WHO DID YOUR PROJECT ENGAGE AND WHAT IMPACTS DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE?

Young adults who have struggled with mental health.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

Getting the privilege of connecting with so many incredible people and hearing where they’ve been and what they’re going through. Also completing it.

TELL US ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH YOUR PROJECT

If I were to start it today, I would spend less time trying to chase down people who didn’t actually want to be apart of it but wouldn’t tell me, and spend more time with those who did want to be apart of it.

I would also designate a week or two to getting the photographs and that’s it, instead of trying to fit them in whenever I could.

Hannah with the first draft of her book!

Feeling inspired? Apply for your
Passion to Purpose Community Grant today!