This report has been co-written by members of the Youth Advisory Group and Grand Challenges Canada (host of the Being Initiative). It explores the practical realities of meaningful engagement and shares lessons after two years of partnership with the youth advisors. The report features reflections on learnings, challenges, and progress from the journey to elevate youth leadership in the Being Initiative.
Youth Voices offers strategies co-developed with youth advisors and based on their experiences, for funders to meaningfully include young people at every stage of the funding cycle. As Being is a multi-faceted initiative with partners focusing on mental health advocacy, learning, and research, the report also explores meaningful youth engagement in these areas.
Accompanying the report is also Youth Voices: Anthology of Personal Stories from Being’s Youth and Lived Experience Advisors, reflecting on the power of youth leadership in mental health.
While grounded in Being’s experience, the lessons in this report can be a valuable resource for funders seeking to create more inclusive and effective mental health programs.
- Youth-Voices
Youth-VoicesYouthVoicesReport_PersonalStories
YouthVoicesReport_PersonalStories - https://www.grandchallenges.ca/2025/youth-engagement-gap/
- Being Initiative
- 2025
