We encourage you to apply! There is no minimum level of experience or education required. 

Yes! You (or as a team) are encouraged to identify organizations locally within your community. Waterlution can also support you in finding an organization, and will work with you and the organization to see if it is the right fit. 

A service action project, at its core, is one that enables you to participate actively in your community and contribute meaningfully in a volunteer capacity.

Here are examples of service action projects that would be good fits for the Y4RC program: 

• An educational digital product, such as capturing the Stories of Community Leaders or Elders for the community.
• A participatory community art installation that addresses/ helps lessen climate anxiety
• Webinars or workshops that teach a resiliency skill and/or offer key information on climate impacts and strategies to be more resilient 
• Partner with a local water or climate organization that is looking for volunteers or which is wanting to add something new
• Build or contribute to a community garden 
• Develop a water-wise product or initiative for an environmentally focused partner (i.e. a community centre, a local library, a local health care facility, your local tourism office, etc.)

The options are endless! Identify what the needs are and follow your passions and strengths.   

In your own local community where you currently live, work, or study.

The Collaboratoriums are designed as extensive learning and training experiences that connect youth participants to two different locations in the country as a way to inspire and inform your own work. Your Service Project does not have to be related to these locations if you do not live there. These 2 in person gatherings will build your network, give you support, and create a community for action.

Yes, you can absolutely work together as a team. We encourage members of the same community to apply so you can advance your local project together.

Mentors will be met through online sessions and during collaboratoriums. They include Waterlution team members as well as various external experts. Their knowledge and experience is diverse and we will help you be supported by the person that has the most expertise in the kind of project you are doing or who can help you develop a particular skill you need for your project.

Yes, as long as it builds climate resilience in your community. Climate change impacts so many aspects of life and we do not want to limit your creativity for what a project could be that would be beneficial to your community’s ability to mitigate, adapt, build knowledge or resilience in its face.   

Impact storytelling means crafting and sharing the story of your project that not only contains information but also have the ability to provoke thought and encourage change.

Yes, if you don’t have a project idea yet, please still apply! Service projects will be developed throughout the program and workshopped with peers.

Yes, the entire program has a 120 hour commitment over 6 months.

No, you do not need to have a partner organization lined up before you join. Once accepted, you are encouraged to identify organizations locally within your community. Waterlution can also support you in finding an organization, and will work with you and the organization to see if it is the right fit.

Yes, participants are expected to attend both collaboratoriums. Please check your calendars and ensure you are available.

We do our best to accommodate all dietary needs. Accepted participants will be sent a form where you detail dietary requirements.

If you have a child 12 years old or younger you can request up to 20 hours of childcare support at $15 per hour (total value $300). There is a place to indicate this on your application.

If you do not have access to a laptop, Waterlution can loan you a laptop for the duration of your time in Y4RC. You would receive your laptop at the first collaboratorium, and Waterlution will pay the shipping cost to return the laptop at the end of the program. There is a place to indicate this on your application. 

Yes, meals, accommodation and travel are covered. Waterlution will arrange transportation for participants, which includes getting to and from your home airport, or if you are driving to the Collarboartorium. Once accepted we will get in touch about booking flights for participants.

Yes, participants will be sharing rooms with like-genders together during the collaboratorium.

Yes, participants will receive a certificate after completing the program.

Please join one of two upcoming info sessions, you will meet some of the team and be able to ask questions there.