What does it mean to be a global citizen today — and how are young people across Canada putting that idea into action?
Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), in partnership with Canadian Geographic magazine, is proud to launch Global Citizens 2026, a special issue that explores how youth, educators, and communities are engaging with global challenges and opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.
Stories of youth leadership and global connection
At the heart of Global Citizens are the voices and experiences of people turning curiosity into impact.
Readers will meet young changemakers like Ziyaan Virji, an entrepreneur who transformed a teenage passion for equity into a platform connecting youth with internships, scholarships, and career opportunities. The issue also features International Youth Fellows such as Nilofar Paiwand Ali, whose work supports local entrepreneurs in the Kyrgyz Republic, strengthening community livelihoods through global cooperation.
The stories are grounded at home as well. Students like Trevon Friesen‑Glenn reflect on how participating in AKFC’s Youth Leadership Academy helped build confidence, leadership skills, and a commitment to community change. Educators from across Canada share how they use AKFC learning resources to bring global issues — including education, health, climate resilience, gender equality, and economic opportunity — into their classrooms in meaningful, engaging ways.
Leadership also takes many forms, as shown through profiles of young community organizers like Izmir Kassam, whose self‑driven fundraising for the World Partnership Walk demonstrates that making a difference doesn’t depend on age, but on initiative and purpose.
Learning beyond the page
Global Citizens 2026 also introduces AKFC’s travelling exhibition, Our Potential, Our Purpose, which invites visitors across Canada to reflect on their role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.
Readers are offered a preview of A Sustainable World, a flagship digital learning product developed by Canadian Geographic and AKFC. Created for classrooms, the interactive world map uses data, visuals, and storytelling to help students explore global development topics and the interconnected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — encouraging systems thinking and empathy alongside knowledge.
Learn more about the digital interactive map project.
Reaching classrooms and communities across Canada
The special issue has been mailed to Canadian Geographic subscribers and educators nationwide. It is also available on our website.
See the preview:
Global Citizens 2026 — and many of the inspiring initiatives it highlights — was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada.
