Fuelling the Entrepreneurial Mindset in our Children and Youth

How does a community empower a thriving next gen? It actively supports ideas and an action taking mindset from a young age!?

Here in the Waterloo Region, we walk the walk - enter the Youth Creativity Fund that was officially launched earlier this year. This is a fund that gives young creators, builders and doers the financial means to advance their ideas and turn them into a reality that contributes to our lives in meaningful ways.

The YCF is spearheaded by the Business and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region and stands as a testament to the generosity of local entrepreneurs and parents like Scott Higgins ,? who understand the value of nurturing problem-solving skills and a can-do attitude in our next generation.

So: problem solvers and action takers? Sounds a lot like entrepreneurial traits, doesn't it? It's like music to my ears! Why? Because both as a teacher and parent, it is my biggest wish for more young people, my children included, to embrace an entrepreneurial approach to life.

In the spirit of spreading positivity this season, I'd love to share some of the incredible projects coming from the young citizens of our Region.

It fills me with tremendous joy and so much optimism for our future to see what these young members of our community are staying busy with.

So what is the YCF and how does it work??

In short, it is a grant of up to $1,000 that children in Waterloo Region can apply for, in order to advance an idea or passion project they are working on. Applications are ongoing and our committee meets every month to review them. Seriously, can you think of a more uplifting job? Anyways, I digress ...?

What we ask in the application? Four key things:

1. A brief idea overview
2. Identify the problem they are solving
3. Challenges they anticipate with the implementation
4. Project learning - what do they expect they'll learn from this experience?

Our goal is to say yes to all projects, so when needed (ie. if something requires further clarification), the BEP team goes back and forth with the applicants to better understand their project.?

This year, the BEP has funded 57 applications for a total of ~$44,000! A total of 155 entrepreneurial youth in our community as young as Grade 5 and all the way to Grade 12.

I will highlight some of the projects they are working on, here, but you can always stay up to date by following the BEP on their socials and check out the success stories on their website.

Menstruation Products Subscription Box for a Cause

I'll start with a project of a young lady (grade 10) who I happen to know since she was in kindergarten. You can imagine my excitement when I heard she was working on a "side gig". This Grade 10 student and her partner are putting together a subscription box that provides proper menstruation products and other relevant products for females during their time of month. This box will contain treats, pampering products as well as, eco-friendly menstrual products. Boxes can be customized to the liking of the subscriber, for example, the sizing of pads or period underwear, the selection of treats for subscribers with dietary restrictions, etc.

But wait, that's not it. A part of their sales will go towards helping women in societies where this basic biological function is still considered shameful and they are often unable to access proper menstrual hygiene products.

Free Tutoring Platform

Muhammad Ali Naseer and Kean Rafael Floresca, two grade 11 students at?Glenview Park Secondary School set out to make learning on a peer-to-peer level easily accessible and free of charge. This was the idea behind InQuisitive, their tutoring platform. Ali and Kean already started getting some external attention. Check out their recent feature in CambridgeToday .

Waterproof socks anyone?

Keyaan (Grade 5) was really bothered by his socks getting wet while playing outside in the snow. This annoyed him so much that he began doing research on existing products that could prevent water from going through his socks. Through this process he learned he could potentially be solving a much bigger problem, which was to prevent hypothermia.

With the YCF funds, he started working on his prototype: purchased a bunch of socks and started testing different products to see which were most efficient in keeping the water out. He quickly learned that some of the existing products designed to waterproof leather gave okay results, but not great.

And then - BINGO - he found a spray that uses nanotechnology! This spray bonds with the fabric of the socks and makes them water repellant.

Did I mention Keyaan is in GRADE 5??

Culture Day

This group of students from Grand River high school recognizes and celebrates the rich tapestry of diversity in our community. Their mission is to foster a greater understanding among people coming from different ethnic backgrounds. How? Meet their brainchild: Culture Day!

What is Culture Day? A special day at GR where students unite to share their unique cultural heritage through food, attire, and presentations. Their ambitious aim is to make this an annual event, and what a goal that is!

Canada is home to a mosaic of cultures from across the globe. This very essence provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to immerse ourselves in world traditions, customs, and flavours, right within our own backyard.

What better way to cultivate a society that is empathetic and broad-minded? Cheers to unity in diversity! ????

The Future Looks Bright

... especially in the hands of young people we got to meet this year through the YCF! Their entrepreneurial way of life shines though their actions and their projects are proof that entrepreneurship isn't just about the bottom line—it's ultimately about enriching the world around you!

In essence they exemplify entrepreneurial thinking. That is: they identify gaps and challenges, and instead of standing idle, they roll up their sleeve and dive right in.

Let's keep fostering this entrepreneurial drive within our youth! Inventive ideas and the willingness to take on important problems in all areas of life, are the key to a prosperous future.

Keep growing entrepreneurial, everyone! ????