About YouLEAD

Why YouLEAD?

Being part of a young person’s life – supporting them to explore, experience and develop an understanding of themselves and the world around them – is both an incredible gift and responsibility.

Whether you’re playing, mentoring or learning with them, young people can change your life while you are trying to change theirs. It can change who you are. This is especially true if you are supporting a young person who is facing significant challenges.

Through transformational leadership programming, YouLEAD builds your capacity to support the well-being of young people and to strengthen the resilience of communities in Canada and around the world. Watch YouLEAD in action in this impact video or view our brochure for a snapshot of our program.

Rita Green George created the Thunderbird image for the International Institute for Child Rights and Development. The Thunderbird is traditional Coast Salish supernatural being which symbolizes transformation.

Who does YouLEAD Involve?

More than 150 YouLEAD practitioners, educators, youth (15+), community leaders, Elders, government and funding organizations are meaningfully engaging young people that are facing complex challenges – such as mental health, trauma, discrimination, violence and poverty.

YouLEAD is delivered by the International Institute for Child Rights and Development in partnership with communities and youth-serving agencies. IICRD is a non-governmental organization that engages an international network of highly skilled professionals and practitioners.

In Canada, IICRD would like to acknowledge the support and collaboration of the Counselling Foundation of Canada, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, as well as several Indigenous Youth Leaders and Elders from Nations across British Columbia and Ontario, Canada in the development of YouLEAD.

"YouLEAD is where I connect with like-minded folks. It is where I sit, grow, learn and heal. We have a Nation to rise, and I am starting with me." - Justin Young, YouLEAD Participant

What does YouLEAD Offer?

YouLEAD draws on innovative, community-driven approaches that build on the strengths and resilience of young people and their communities. YouLEAD aims to increase participant capacity on 20 specific abilities (values-in-action) that IICRD considers essential to support the well-being of young people.

Practitioner Training: YouLEAD IICRD Certificate Program [9 courses], customized certificate training, cross-country youth worker gatherings, conference presentations and publishing, post-secondary credit opportunities
Community of Practice: Virtual learning circles to integrate program learning into practice, private on-line platform to strengthen social networks and deepen learning, access to peers and practitioners from around the world
Applied Learning: Mentorship from highly trained and skillful practitioners & Elders, integration of course learning into a community initiative or personal project, skill recognition stamps to acknowledge the development of leadership skills

Where can I find YouLEAD?

YouLEAD is delivered in collaboration with communities and schools in Canada and internationally. Explore impact stories from our involvement in British Columbia and Ontario (both in Canada) as well as Chad in Western Africa and Thailand (story to follow).

How do you join YouLEAD?

IICRD works with schools and organizations to collaboratively deliver programming in communities across Canada and international. Learn more about how to book YouLEAD in your community. Contact the YouLEAD Program Coordinator for more information.

YouLEAD occasionally offers public workshops open to individuals, please see the website for upcoming events.

IICRD would like to acknowledge the support and collaboration of the Counselling Foundation of Canada, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, as well as several Indigenous Youth Leaders and Elders from Nations across British Columbia and Ontario, Canada in the development of YouLEAD.

Resources

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