What are CANConnect Micro-grants?

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Funded by the Canada Service Corps (CSC) at Employment and Social Development of Canada and administrated by GLOCAL, the CANConnect Micro-grant Diversity Program aims to empower Canadian youth, especially underserved youth, to initiate creative civic engagement projects nationwide. The program focuses on equipping participants with the resources, civic knowledge and digital skills to promote civic engagement and democratic participation in Canada through project-based initiatives. 

CANConnect aims to distribute 160 micro-grants to 160 Canadian youth applicants from across Canada. These micro-grants serve as a means to empower youth and enable them to actively engage in civic activities that positively contribute to their communities. By providing resources and support, the program promotes civic awareness and democratic literacy among Canadian youth.

One of the key aspects of the program is encouraging participants to provide accurate information about Canadian democratic institutions, help navigate the political system, and promote understanding of current and historical events in Canadian politics. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the democratic process and encourages informed civic participation among youth.

The GLOCAL team provides mentorship and digital civic training to support youth in carrying out creative initiatives that address local, regional, or community concerns in Canada.

The objectives of the Micro-grant Diversity program for Canadian youth conducted by GLOCAL Foundation of Canada include:

• Empowerment through Civic Engagement: Providing micro-grants to youth, empowering them to carry out creative civic engagement initiatives relevant to their local, regional, or community concerns. This encourages active participation in civic activities and promotes positive contributions to communities.
• Civic Awareness and Democratic Literacy: Promoting civic awareness and democratic literacy to youth with knowledge, skills, and experience in civic engagement and democratic participation. Encouraging initiatives that provide accurate information about Canadian democratic institutions, navigate the political system, and understand current and historical events in Canadian politics.
• Inclusivity and Community Contributions: Supporting participants in contributing to their local communities through creative projects that address local issues. The micro-grants facilitate the design of initiatives that promote inclusivity, community engagement, and a sense of belonging and ownership in their new home country.
• Awareness of Civic Information: Raising awareness about the accessibility of civic information and the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and information overload. The program promotes media literacy and critical thinking skills among Canadian youth, enabling them to become discerning consumers of civic information and active participants in the democratic process.

GLOCAL Foundation of Canada strives to develop and execute programs that align with the themes of building an inclusive Canada, promoting civic and democratic engagement, strengthening youth resilience, and potential new themes that are identified by the youth themselves. By achieving these objectives, the foundation aims to create a more informed, engaged, and inclusive society.

Got questions? Check out our program guide below, FAQ page and Tips for Success.