If we want to save the planet for future generations, we must involve our youth.
As both global and local research has indicated, children and youth are among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Low-income and racialized youth are made even more vulnerable, due to socioeconomic and socio-cultural factors.
That’s why the Skills for Change Youth Climate Action Initiative (YCAI) is focused on empowering young people to become more engaged in addressing the urgent issue of climate change.
From leading tree planting and urban gardening outings to offering environmental education and workshops, the YCAI provides young people with the skills and knowledge they need to become agents of sustainable change in their communities.
We want to instil a culture of environmental preservation, health, and well-being in youth between the ages of 16 and 29 who reside in the Greater Toronto Area. More specifically, we are working to mitigate the effects of climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy in low-income and racialized neighbourhoods.
To do this, we will directly improve access to structural and social determinants of health, and access to urban green spaces, thus building resiliency within communities to adapt to changing environments. We will also instil in the youth knowledge of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how they can impact the UN’s agenda at the local level.
In recognition of our efforts, TD Bank Group (TD) awarded $1 million to YCAI as part of its 2022 TD Ready Challenge, an annual initiative that seeks to support non-profit and charitable organizations that are focused on developing innovative, impactful, and measurable solutions for a changing world.
With this funding, we will be able to develop new partnerships, provide additional resources and support, and engage more communities in the important work of building a sustainable future.
These activities will include providing youth with the opportunity to build connections with like-minded peers; enjoy nature-based activities, such as urban gardening, tree planting, and forest therapy walks; learn about sustainability through tours, events, and workshops; develop leadership skills through free weekly sessions; and create their own community climate action project.
Without the TD Ready Challenge grant, we wouldn’t be able to offer these experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the underserved communities that benefit the most from them, including Jane and Finch, Weston, Black Creek, Thorncliffe Park, and Flemingdon Park.
In the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, for example, our Youth Greening program has been successful in engaging youth in introductory urban greening efforts as well as establishing a basic understanding of climate change and the significance of grassroots climate action.
We believe that young people have the power to create positive change in the world, and we are committed to empowering them to do so. The Youth Climate Action Initiative is a critical part of this work, and we are thrilled to have the support of TD in advancing this important cause.
Surranna Sandy is CEO of Skills for Change.