Empowering Youth Volunteers

Empowering Youth in STEM Leadership and Community Impact

SCWIST is excited to launch a new national initiative that opens doors for girls, women, and gender-diverse youth across Canada to grow as leaders in STEM and make a lasting impact in their communities – while contributing to national progress and global transformation through science, innovation, and systems change.

Empowering Youth Volunteers as STEM Leaders, Community Change Champions and Policy Advocates is a 26-month program that supports 320 youth aged 14 to 30 through flexible, co-created volunteer placements focused on STEM leadership, sustainability, and policy advocacy.

These placements are designed to reflect the lived realities and aspirations of youth, while addressing real-world challenges in their communities. Participants are engaging in community-based projects and policy-oriented experiences that reimagine what it means to lead, collaborate, and innovate in STEM – not just for career development, but for systemic change.

This initiative is grounded in collaboration with organizations across Canada who are deeply committed to equity, education, and innovation in STEM. We are honoured to work alongside partners who bring rooted expertise, lived experience, and visionary leadership to this project:

Canadian Science Policy Centre, Civic Action, Canadian Black Scientists Network, Yukon First Nations Education Directorate, IndigeSTEAM, First Nations Education Administrators Association, IDEA-STEM, Tech Girls Canada, Canadian Council of Rehabilitation and Work, ACCESS, Visions of Science, Gender at Work, capitalW, Voices Amplified and Jensen Group.

Together, we are co-creating opportunities that reflect the strengths and aspirations of diverse youth, while contributing to broader systems change in STEM education, policy, and community engagement.

With a strong focus on equity, inclusion, and access, the program prioritizes opportunities for girls, women, and gender-diverse youth who are, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, youth living with disabilities, and others facing systemic barriers to participation in STEM.

Participants benefit from:

• Leadership and skill-building experiences
• Mentorship and professional networking
• Insight into STEM policy development and civic engagement
• A vibrant peer network grounded in shared values of curiosity and collaboration

Empowering YOUTH Volunteers as STEM Leaders, Community Change Champions and Policy Advocates is funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12-30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. 

Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps