Seeking Youth Participation

Are you interested in using your skills to make a tangible difference in your community? Would you like to add a valuable experience to your resume or gain volunteer hours?

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is seeking youth participation under the new Youth Innovation Component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF).

What is the EAF?

The EAF is a federal government grants and contributions program which provides funding to eligible organizations for projects that increase accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian community spaces and workplaces. Projects funded by the EAF allow people with disabilities to participate more fully in community activities, programs and services as well as access employment opportunities.

Examples of EAF Projects include but are not limited to:

• Installing an access ramp and/or automated door openers;
• Widening doorways and hallways;
• Procuring accessible beach wheelchairs or adapted Kayaks; and
• Installing accessible technology such as computer screen readers, voice recognition software and braille printers.

How youth can participate?

The EAF Youth Innovation Component provides an opportunity for youth to have a direct impact in the lives of people with disabilities by addressing accessibility barriers in public spaces and/or workplaces across Canada.

Interested youth (age 15-30) will:

• Register their interest online to the EAF by September 21, 2018;
• Receive a tool kit / info package from the EAF;
• Identify accessibility barriers in workplaces or community spaces;
• Approach eligible organization(s) and let them know about the accessibility barriers in their community space or workplace;
• Encourage the organization(s) to apply for up to $10,000 in EAF funding under the Youth Innovation Component (deadline for organizations to apply for funding is November 16, 2018);
• Answer the question in the organization’s project funding proposal related to the project’s objective; and
• Fill out the final questionnaire to help improve the program.

Volunteer youth interested in participating in this initiative, are asked to inform the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) team of their interest by September 21, 2018 using the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/enabling-accessibility-fund-youth-innovation.html.

Together let’s build a more accessible Canada!

Enabling Accessibility Fund Team
Employment and Social Development Canada