Ottawa’s Youth Action Panel “Makes it Happen”

Youth Success Stories

United Way/Centraide Ottawa’s Youth Action Panel “Makes it Happen” The United Way/Centraide Ottawa Youth Action Panel is made up of dedicated volunteers aged 13 to 18. Their goal is to take ideas for creative projects and turn them into reality, empowering young people to believe in change, to take action and to make decisions about their community - in short, they support other youth in making a difference.

Each year on March 1st and November 1st, funding applications for youth-led community projects are submitted by local teenagers. These applications are reviewed by the Youth Action Panel, which submits its recommendations to the United Way/Centraide Community Services Cabinet. Grants of up to $2,500 are awarded for individual projects; up to $60,000 annually is invested by the Cabinet in helping teams of young people make their projects come to life.

How an idea can come to life
When a group of teens living with disabilities realized that children with special needs didn’t have many recreational choices, they took matters into their own hands. The group organized the first-ever “Great Ottawa Overnight” - a one-night sleepover for teens with physical and developmental challenges. The night’s activities included arts and crafts, wheelchair basketball, memory books and a group dinner. The event, which was supervised by recreation therapists from the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, was funded by a Youth Action Grant from United Way/Centraide.

For 12-year-old Celine Walker, it was a fantastic night filled with new friends and experiences. “Even when you’re in a wheelchair,” she says, “it’s important to get to try new things.”

Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
2005 Youth Action Funding
Youth Action gives young people a voice and helps to build leadership