The Rural Ontario Institute’s Rural Change Maker Program is growing. This program supports young people in rural Ontario ages of 18-35 to build confidence and capacity in community changemaking.

For nearly a decade ROI has supported over 40 emerging leaders from all corners of Ontario through youth-focused programming to help them make a difference in their communities, based on self-identified community needs, hopes and goals.

The past few years have been quite difficult for many young people, but especially so for rural youth. We have learned much from our Rural Change Makers and discovered the needs of our young people have been profoundly impacted by the Pandemic, particularly youth in rural and remote regions, Indigenous youth and youth with barriers who face uniquely different experiences, opportunities and challenges.

To bridge youth-identified gaps and better serve the diverse needs, hopes and dreams of young people in rural Ontario we are re-tooling our upcoming program for 2023 and undertaking research about rural youth in Ontario.

As part of this evaluation, we are listening! Listening to what rural youth need. What matters to you. What you hope for. What you love about your communities and how we can wrap opportunities around those aspirations to create spaces for leadership, growth, respect, inclusion, discovery and belonging. We want to connect with you, which is why this space is dedicated to Young, Resilient, Rural Ontario youth. To you! Celebrating you and learning about your community!