Are you looking for an innovative, hands-on program that empowers students to make a real difference in their communities while developing essential skills? Look no further than YPI!
Since 2002, YPI has partnered with thousands of schools across Canada, engaging hundreds of thousands of students in a transformative learning experience. Our fully resourced program is designed to align with your educational priorities and support your goals for student development.
What sets YPI apart?
Flexibility: Our program model can be adapted to fit your school's unique culture and curricular expectations. Whether you're in a public or private school, urban or rural setting, YPI can work for you.
Comprehensive support: Our dedicated team provides ongoing support to ensure you can realize the full potential of the program. From adaptable resources to in-person and virtual workshops, we're here to help you every step of the way.
Long-term partnership: When you enroll in YPI, you're not just getting a one-time program - you're gaining a committed partner. We work with schools year after year to build sustainable, impactful programming.
Community engagement: YPI connects students with local charities, fostering meaningful relationships and a deeper understanding of social issues in their community.
Launch
Students are introduced to YPI through a classroom-based or grade level assembly, supported by the Welcome to YPI video.
Finalists present again before their school, guests and a panel of judges. The team with the most compelling presentation is awarded a $5000 grant to direct to their charity.
YPI Finals
Teams prepare and deliver a presentation on their chosen charity and issues, and the impact a $5000 grant would have.
Research on Local Social Issues
Students identify and research social issues affecting their community.
Presentations
Research on Local Charities
Teams contact and visit the charity, gaining an in-depth understanding of what it does and how it operates.
Selection of a Charity
Contact and Visit
Teams research and analyze local charities working to address the social issues they’ve identified.
Teams select and further research the charity they believe best addresses their chosen issue.
How YPI works
Hover below each step to learn more about it
Meeting the growing demand: YPI's invitation for schools to join the waitlist and inspire future philanthropists
YPI is actively seeking to expand its reach and impact by partnering with a growing number of schools.
To ensure that as many students as possible can benefit from YPI's valuable programming, we have established a waitlist system. This allows schools to secure their place in line to participate once funding becomes available.
YPI is proactively engaging with generous partners and supporters to secure the necessary resources to onboard waitlisted schools as quickly as possible. Our aim is to minimize wait times and enable students to start experiencing the many positive outcomes of the YPI program without delay.
By applying to YPI today, schools can take the first step towards empowering their students with the skills, knowledge and passion for philanthropy and community engagement. Together, we can inspire the next generation of compassionate leaders and changemakers.
We look forward to welcoming more schools into the YPI family and working hand-in-hand to make a meaningful difference in communities across the country.
Ready to get started? Here's what you need to know:
-
YPI is implemented in one mandatory course across a chosen grade level (we recommend Grades 9 or 10)
-
All students in the grade level must participate to ensure an inclusive experience
-
The program runs for at least four weeks, using our comprehensive curriculum guide
-
Students will identify and select local charities to research and visit
-
The program culminates in a Final Presentations Assembly where students share their learning with their peers and a panel of judges
-
Interested in learning more? Download our guide to share with your administrative team and department colleagues. We'll walk you through the application process and help you consider how YPI can support your school's goals and priorities.
"YPI is a brilliant project that is at the forefront of education. I have been teaching for 30 years and I have never seen a project work so effectively across an entire grade that empowers youth to gain skills for their future and at the same time promotes empathy and caring. It is truly a recipe for success!"
- Marilyn Nunn, Teacher
"YPI has been an important part of our school culture for many years. Hundreds of our students have learned about the impact they can have on their community and about issues that matter to them. YPI helps young people develop a sense of courage and confidence that they carry with them beyond high school, and helps our school graduate students who recognize their agency and act on their values."
- J.P. King, Teacher
Where does YPI fit?
YPI delivers on key curriculum expectations and mandated learning outcomes in many curricular programs. YPI teachers use the project to address a wide variety of curriculum expectations for students in Grade 9 or 10 mandatory courses, including Civics, Careers, English Language Arts, Ethics and Religious Culture, Geography, Humanities, Planning, and Social Studies.
Connections between YPI and curriculum for courses in which YPI is most frequently housed (based on representation among our current participating schools) are outlined here. This is not an exhaustive list of all curriculum expectations that can be met through YPI. YPI is a flexible and versatile program, with elements that cut across curricular lines.
If you would like to speak with someone about how to address the specific curricular expectations for your course, contact us.
Dependent on capacity, we love to enroll new school into the program, and extend our impact to more students and
charities across Canada. Applications for 2025-26 are now open.
What to prepare
You will need the support of a school administrator who will be able to authorize your school’s participation in YPI. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a downloadable guide you can share with your administrative team and department colleagues.
Along with some basic information about your school (address, contact information, etc.) the YPI application form will ask a series of short answer questions about where our program would fit within your school’s culture and community. We encourage you to take some time to consider and discuss these questions within your department, or with your administrators/school leadership before you get started on the application form.
-
What school-wide goals/priorities/values align with YPI?
-
What are some student outcomes you would hope to see as a result of participating in YPI?
-
What other experiential learning/community engagement programs/initiatives are offered at your school?
-
What does student/youth voice mean to you as an educator? How does your school engage youth in decision-making?
-
In what ways does your school currently interact with charities and other community organizations?
-
In your opinion, what social issues are currently most pressing in your school’s surrounding community?