Building Brighter Futures for Ottawa’s Youth

Youth Futures is a 6-month bilingual program that includes:

Leadership & Employment Training → Practical and interactive sessions that prepare youth for college & university, the workplace and beyond.
Post-Secondary Orientation → Get a head start on college or university with guided tours and insider tips.
Summer Jobs → Hands-on experience through paid summer employment opportunities. Possibility of obtaining up to two high school COOP credits through the summer placement.
Peer Support & Networking → A strong community of peers and mentors to grow, connect and succeed.

The program runs February to August every year. Applications for the 2026 cohort will open soon!

Get involved!

Apply as a Participant: Join the program and prepare for what’s next.
Become a Mentor: Help shape the future by mentoring, supporting, and inspiring youth.
Support the Program: Help youth successfully transition to post-secondary studies and careers.
Host a Placement: Provide valuable work experience for students.
Sponsor the Program: Partner with us to strengthen opportunities for young people in our community.

Empower the Next Generation

Your gift provides skills, resources, and opportunity. Donate to Youth Futures to help empower the next generation of leaders!

TESTIMONIALS

Youth Futures has been a consistent source of quality summer students for our organization. I am always pleased and impressed by the students that they send us.

Youth Futures helped me in my post-secondary education, as my placement was exactly where I will be spending the next three years. It allowed me to get to know more and more people on campus and to meet with them. I am grateful to Youth Futures for that.

Youth Futures provides crucial opportunities for skill-building, mentorship and career development that many young people may not otherwise access. It creates pathways to education and employment that strengthen both the youth and the community. I highly recommend this program!

Having been a mentee myself, becoming a Youth Futures mentor allowed me to give back and continue my own journey of personal growth and self-discovery.

Youth Futures allowed me to develop my interview skills, my leadership, and my communication skills. There were indeed moments during the program when I surprised myself. Meeting many people, getting to know them, and then becoming friends with them was a wonderful experience.

This year’s students blew us away! They asked incredibly thoughtful questions, demonstrated they were engaged with their discussions, and actively listened. We were so thrilled to be part of this year’s Youth Futures Program because if this is what the next generation is about – the City will be highly efficient and lucky to have such bright and capable people.

Building Brighter Futures for Ottawa’s Youth

Get involved!

Empower the Next Generation

TESTIMONIALS

Thanks to our Partners for making Youth Futures a Success!