The Youth Champions Program, bringing together Canadian SMOs and local and international youth, has officially started with its first cohort of 17 participants! This multi-generational and peer-to-peer learning exchange and collaboration program is not oblivious to the global public health crisis provoked by COVID-19 pandemic.

The planned activities have been adapted to the circumstances by putting an emphasis on online public engagement skills and on the link between the Sustainable Development Goals, gender justice, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we know that the confinement and restrictions will put pressure on our participants and their partner SMOs. That’s why we’ve been working with them to find ways to overcome these unexpected constraints.

In the upcoming weeks, biographies of the participants and updates on the program will be published. In the meantime, youth participants have been active on social media calling on folks to stay at home, in the languages used by their local communities. You can follow their posts published with the hashtag #YCP2020.