Youth Leadership Academy

To be considered for AKFC’s Youth Leadership Academy, nominees must meet the following criteria: 

• Be between 16 and 18 years old at the time of the program (as of July 27, 2026). 
• Be a resident of Canada and able to travel to Toronto for the full duration of the Academy (July 27-31, 2026). 
• Demonstrate a strong interest in global citizenship, sustainable development, and addressing global issues at the community or international level. 
• Have prior leadership experience (formal or informal) OR show strong potential and motivation to grow as a leader in their community or field. 
• Be willing to actively participate in all five days of programming and contribute to group learning and collaboration. 
• Be comfortable communicating in English, as all programming will be conducted primarily in English. 
• Be returning to high school in September 2026. 
• Be willing to implement an action project during the 2026-2027 school year.
• Program alumni are not eligible to reapply. 

Is there a cost to attend? 

• No, the program is fully funded. AKFC covers the cost of travel, accommodation, and meals for participants attending the in-person convening in Toronto. 

Can I attend only part of the program? 

• Full participation in all sessions is mandatory to ensure cohort cohesion and maximize learning.  

Will there be accommodations for excursions outside of scheduled programming?  

• There are no exceptions and/or accommodations for participants to engage in off-site activities outside of the scheduled and official programming.

Is the program bilingual or only in English? 

• The program will be conducted in English. Participants should be comfortable reading, writing, and speaking in English. 

What is the commitment after the program? 

• Participants are expected to implement an action project related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the 2026-2027 school year. 

What kind of support will I receive after the Academy? 

• Participants will receive a microgrant to support the implementation of their action project, along with ongoing remote support on project planning and management from AKFC staff and Youth Advisory Committee members. In addition, participants who attend the Academy with a teacher will get in-school mentorship from their nominating teacher.

What are the supervision and safety arrangements? 

• Nominated students will be accompanied to York University by their nominating teachers. During the duration of the Academy, AKFC will provide comprehensive supervision with a team of trained staff and volunteers. All adults involved are vetted to ensure participants’ safety. 

How will my application be assessed? 

• Please see the assessment rubric for the application form here. 
• We value the authenticity and individuality of each application. To ensure a fair assessment process, we request that you complete your application form without using any external assistance, including AI tools. All eligible applications received will be evaluated without the use of AI. 
• Final selection decisions will be based on a holistic review process that includes application form scores as well as considerations of regional representation and demographic diversity. 

Are there any religious components to the program?  

• No, there are no religious components to the program.