Teachers Life and OTIP are thrilled to share that applications are open for our 2024 Press Start CoLab High School Program. This program supports teenagers across Ontario who want to create positive change. Over seven weeks, high school students from across Ontario will work together with their peers and a member of the education community to develop an idea that addresses mental health for youth.
If you are an education leader in one of Ontario’s high schools, we encourage you to organize a group of 2-5 students and apply today. We will be accepting 10 teams, each with 2-5 students and led by an education leader. Students may draw from one or more Ontario high schools. You and your team will receive access to guidance from social entrepreneurs in mental health as well as tools and resources that will help frame your ideas and help them launch. That is not all! At the end of the program, you can apply for access to a pool of grant funds to help get your ideas launched into your schools and communities. The total grant pool is $25,000 generously sponsored by OTIP. All teams can apply for up to $5,000 in grants each so your chances of accessing fund support are excellent.
Why is Teachers Life and OTIP launching this program?
We are both mission-based organizations with strong desire to see our Ontario high schools and all Members and students thriving. We recognize just how important the topic of mental health is for everyone – especially teachers and students. This is our way to demonstrate our support towards positive change. Learn more and apply here.
It also piggybacks off the success of Teachers Life’s core program which runs throughout the summer months, which is simply called the Press Start CoLab Program. Our summer program supports youth change makers ages 18-29 years. Read all about this year’s grant recipients with our press release.
The 2024 Press Start CoLab High School program will have 3 subcategory areas participants can focus on. These include:
- De-stigmatizing Mental Health: Cultivating mental health literacy, fostering awareness, and enhancing communication through open dialogues around mental health.
- Building Confidence and Self-Image: Celebrating individuality and amplifying diverse perspectives and voices to nurture confidence and positive self-image.
- Creating Safe Spaces for Connectedness: Creating accessible community spaces that foster connection and belonging, empowering others to speak openly about mental health in a safe and supportive environment.
We have 5 incredible youth leaders who were grant recipients of our Press Start Program that will lead our high school teams through the ideation process and proposal prep. These include Karima Leslie, Ilya Robinson, Eileen Danaee, Alexander Lam, and Karen Huo. As well, keynote speaker Anthony McLean will provide an inspirational talk for all our aspiring youth change makers. You can read all about each of our mentors and Anthony’s biography here.
Do not delay, apply today as applications close on Saturday, September 28th, 2024. The program will kick off October 24th and end December 19th, 2024, when we announce the grant award recipients.
If you would like more information, please refer to our FAQ’s.
Together, we can make a big difference in ensuring our schools and communities are safe for all staff and students.
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