Social Impact Accelerator Projects (SIAP)

Make a lasting change in your community!

The Social Impact Accelerator program at Chantiers Jeunesse offers the opportunity for alumni volunteers of the Canada Service Corps, ages 15-30, to have access to a micro-grant of up to $5,000 and personalized coaching in the creation of a new community service project OR the continuation of an existing project.

The Accelerator program will help youth volunteers improve their social entrepreneurial skills and develop their project for long term, sustainable growth.

Grants offered by cohort: 20 volunteers will be selected for the next cohort starting in April and will receive grants of $2000 to $5000 to carry out their social impact projects.

Unfortunately the program was a victim of its own success.

Do you want to know more? Check out the January 9th information session.

What are the goals of the program?

  • Design and implement your idea for a social impact project;
  • Develop a sustainable strategy in order to have the greatest impact;
  • Solidify your connection with the community in need;
  • Create relationships with other volunteers across Canada;
  • Connect to social impact networks;
  • Develop your skills through experiential learning (think systemically and critically in decision making, develop public speaking and storytelling skills, improve organizational skills, understand issues surrounding inequity, understand diversity and inclusion, develop perseverance and adaptability)

4 components to support volunteers

This program has four components to support you in the development and realization of your long-term project.

You must commit to investing approximately 5 hours per week for 6 months to achieve the deliverables.

Don’t worry, throughout your project, an agent will be assigned to your project in order to coach you in the development and realization of your project.

Individual Learning

Asynchronous training modules and a resource base will help you start and finish your project at your own pace.

Community Learning

Online, collaborative workshops will help you exchange ideas and tips with your cohort in order to support each other in producing the best possible outcome for your project.

Discussion Panels with experts

Discussion panels with professionals in the social entrepreneurship sector will help you discover the challenges and realities of project development.

Micro-grant

A micro-grant of up to $5,000 will be allotted to each project.

2 possible paths

INCUBATOR

Financing up to $3,000

  • You have identified a real need in a community;
  • You already have an idea for a project which can respond to that need;
  • You are apart of said community or you have a connection with that community;
  • You are ready and able to participate in training events and produce project deliverables throughout the 6-month program.
Apply here!

ACCELERATOR

Financing up to $5,000

  • You wish to expand the impact of your pre-existing project;
  • You are ready and able to participate in training events and produce project deliverables throughout the 6-month program.
Apply here!

Project eligibility

  • Be done on a voluntary basis and have a positive impact on a community;
  • Be completed in no more than 6 months (some exceptions may apply);
  • Host all activities and benefits in Canada (some exceptions may apply);
  • Offer all services and activities for free;
  • Use financing by Chantiers Jeunesse exclusively for the implementation of the project. All purchases must adhere to our Sustainable Sourcing Guide: https://www.cj.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Version.7.-Guide-developpement-durable.pdf

The project is not eligible if:

  • The funds given by Chantiers Jeunesse are used to generate a profit or organize a fundraiser of any kind;
  • The public is required to pay for activities related to the project;
  • The funds are used to pay honorariums to their team members and other CJ volunteers that are part of the Social Impact Accelerator program. Exceptions may be made for members of Indigenous Communities or those living in remote regions;
  • The project budget does not respect the limits established by the Chantiers Jeunesse budget categories (Budget restriction condition document);
  • The project does not support a candidate or member of a political party;
  • The project does not respect the rights of individuals living in Canada, does not abide by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, does not respect reproductive rights, or discriminates based on gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, color, mental health, physical or cognitive limitations, sexual orientation or identity, or gender expression.

What type of projects are we looking for?

•  Activities supporting the education of communities;
• Activities offering support to youth engaging in community action;
• Activities that support Indigenous and underserved youth
• Activities that expand community tools and resources;
• Activities that offer volunteering opportunities to youth (ex. youth partnerships in volunteering experiences);
 

• Activities that support and promote the advantages of citizen participation;
• Activities that promote youth engagement in community service;
• Events and services not currently offered in the community;
• Projects addressing one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action;
• Projects addressing one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals

How are projects selected?

  • Round 1:

A first round of selection will take place when applications are received. Candidates will be reviewed based on the volunteer and project eligibility criteria.

  • Final Round:

INCUBATOR

Project is selected by:

  • The volunteer’s level of motivation and engagement in their potential project;
  • The volunteer’s level of understanding of the community’s needs;

The Chantiers Jeunesse Team will be attentive to:

  • The volunteer’s level of motivation and engagement in their potential project;
  • The volunteer’s level of understanding of the community’s needs;
  • A pre-established connection with the community in need;
  • The potential social and environmental impact of the project.

ACCELERATOR

Project is selected by:

  • The impact that the pre-existing project has had on the community;
  • The potential for the project to evolve into a long-term initiative;
  • The long-term impact on the community and volunteer;
  • The potential skill development for the volunteer.

The Chantiers Jeunesse Team will be attentive to:

  • The volunteer’s level of motivation and engagement in their potential project;
  • The volunteer’s level of understanding of the community’s needs;
  • A pre-established connection with the community in need;
  • The potential social and environmental impact of the project.


Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Project Selection

We encourage the candidacy of those who belong to an underserved population. This may include, but is not limited to:

If you require support in filling out the application, do not hesitate to contact us directly.

  • People in a racialized group,
  • Indigenous people, people with a physical or cognitive disability,
  • Members of the 2SLGBTQI+community,
  • Recent immigrants to Canada,
  • Members of a language minority community, people living in remote regions.

If you require support in filling out the application, do not hesitate to contact us directly: impact@cj.qc.ca

Unfortunately the program was a victim of its own success.

The Social Impact Accelerator project program is funded by the Government of Canada Service Corps.