“There was a girl with a young sister and they were very attached. The little one was too young to join the group so it took some convincing of the older one to join. This girl really came out of her shell and it was exciting to watch her grow,” says Christy of the M’Chigeeng Lil’Sisters Empowerment Project. “And now she is excited to be there and looks forward to our activities. She was once very quiet and is now open.”
The Lil’Sisters Empowerment Project in M’Chigeeng First Nation, Ontario, is a girls-only group that holds monthly meetings where youth like Christy mentor younger peers. The project launched in 2014, encouraging the girls to develop leadership skills and build bonds with each other, their culture, and their community. Lil’Sisters began with all participants brainstorming activities that would challenge them to learn and experience new things like planning and hosting a community event, volunteering, traveling, cooking, and monthly sleepovers. The Lil’Sisters group has been such a success in shaping future community champions that organizers are expanding the group and planning to introduce a boys’ group.
Lil’Sisters helps provide youth with the potential to transform their communities. This project is one of 12 in a cohort of projects the Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project (OIYPP) supported in its inaugural year.
With a goal of empowering Indigenous youth as leaders in their communities, OIYPP offers Indigenous youth small grants, opportunities to receive or take on mentorship roles, skills training, and vital connections with other youth, partners, and funders. OIYPP is a partnership between Tides Canada, The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, Indigenous youth in Ontario, and other funders and partners.
With a philosophy deeply rooted in reciprocity, OIYPP is committed to creating mutual learning experiences to help bridge the gap between funders and Indigenous youth, and to building strong relationships among participants. For example, OIYPP hosted a Design Lab, a collaborative planning and skill-building workshop powered by project participants. The Lab enabled OIYPP participants to give feedback on the overall program and better shape and design their individual projects.
OIYPP is now open for 2015/16 applications. We invite Indigenous youth to submit ideas for youth-led action-focused projects that engage their communities. OIYPP support for eligible projects can include grants from $500 to $5,000 and other types of assistance such as training, leadership development, mentorship, and access to project partners. Apply here by November 16, 2015.
