Empowering Youth Through Sport: $1,000 Available for Student-Led Projects Across the NWT

What could you do with $500 to make sport and physical activity better for girls and young women in your school or community? The NWT School Sport Association is excited to launch its Youth Engagement Initiative, supported by Canadian Women & Sport. Beginning September 1, students across the Northwest Territories are invited to turn their ideas into action.

Through the initiative, two $500 grants will be available to support student-led projects that empower girls and young women through sport and movement. The goal is simple: give young people the opportunity to identify what would make a difference in their own school or community, and support them in making it happen.

Projects could focus on inclusion, leadership, body confidence, participation, or creating new opportunities for girls and young women to be active. A student or student team might organize a girls-only activity club, create a mentorship program connecting younger and older students, develop a campaign about body confidence, host a special activity day, create a photo or art project, or come up with something completely different.

We have provided some ideas, but we are especially interested in hearing your ideas. Students or student teams from NWT schools can apply, with Grades 7 to 12 preferred. Each project must have the support of a teacher or community mentor and must focus on girls and young women.

The $500 can be used for expenses such as equipment, supplies, printing, facility rentals, snacks, incentives, guest speakers, facilitators, mentor or volunteer honoraria, or even a pizza lunch to bring people together.

Applications do not need to be complicated. Students will be asked to tell us what they want to do and why, who will be involved, who will benefit, how they would use the funding, and when they plan to make it happen. Applications open September 1, 2026, and close September 30, 2026. Successful projects will have until May 30, 2027, to complete their initiatives.

Sometimes creating change starts with giving someone the opportunity to try an idea. We cannot wait to see what NWT students come up with.