Five teenage girls smiling behind a cardboard selfie frame that says #FunFest. They are all wearing matching T-shirts and flashing VIP lanyards.

YIP Spotlight: Youth Fun Fest

About the Youth Impact Project

The Youth Impact Project (YIP) is a collaboration between the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (CYPT) and Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL).

On June 8, over 100 youth from 15 local organisations pitched their ideas to a panel of nine youth. The Youth Decision-Making Panel (“The Dragons”) decided which projects would receive funding to make their idea a reality. The Youth Impact Project looks to fund youth who are addressing local challenges which are identified through the 2023 Youth Impact Survey results. The funded projects include a focus onsupporting youth mental and physical health, increasing feelings of belonging,and responding to climate change and food insecurity.

Youth will be working on their projects untilDecember. We’re featuring each of the 12 projects!

Youth Fun Fest

Who pitched the project?

Pitchers: Anna, Peace, T.J

Rest of the team: Harsimar, Aisha

Supported by Social Venture Partners Teens Waterloo Region

What problem are you addressing in Waterloo Region? 

We aim to overcome an overlooked problem in our community: the problem of youth being free to play! From the accessibility to all kinds of activities to the comfort of choice, Youth FunFest bridges the gap and provides the opportunity for youth to play.

What are you going to do with the money?

Thanks to the generous $5,000 grant, we have been given the green light to move forward with our pre-planned budget. This funding will encompass the logistics of Youth FunFest, including the venue, technological equipment, and organizational supplies. More excitingly, a larger sum of the money will be allocated to game/activity equipment, winnable prizes and giveaway gifts, goodie bags, and of course snacks – in other words, the “fun” in Youth FunFest! We envision implementing either catering or food trucks, as well as introducing a “food ticket” system that would offer discounted prices to attendees.

Keep up with this project

Follow SVP Teens on Instagram

More about the Youth Impact Project

The Youth Impact Project is a collaboration between Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL) and the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (CYPT).

Learn more about the Youth Impact Project

A collage of three photos. The poster board for Youth Fun Fest project. Orange and blue, text, graphics, charts. Brochures and candy. Two teenage girls and an adult man smiling, popping a party popper, and holding a gigantic cheque. Confetti from the party popper is raining down in front of them. Five teenage girls wearing matching SVP Teens T-shirts smiling and posing in front of a powerpoint slide projected on the wall.