NT School Sports is excited to share that we have approved two projects through our Youth Engagement Initiative, supported by Canadian Women & Sport. It has been incredible to see the applications come in, each one filled with creativity, care, and a strong desire to make a difference through sport and movement.

What stands out most is that both selected projects come from smaller communities in the Northwest Territories. This is exactly what this initiative is about, creating opportunities where they are needed most, and supporting youth who are stepping forward to lead in their own communities.

One of the funded projects comes from Deh Gah School, led by Grade 7 student Karissa Sadowick. Her idea focuses on something simple but powerful, access. A weekend and evening sports program has already started to make a difference, giving students a chance to practice, improve, and feel more confident in their abilities. Where opportunities were once limited, there is now growing interest, increased participation, and a stronger sense of health and wellbeing among students, especially girls.

The funding will help address one of the biggest barriers in many northern communities, transportation. By supporting travel to and from the gym, this project ensures that more youth can consistently take part, removing a key obstacle and allowing the program to continue growing.

The second approved project is led by Grade 9 student Katelynne Fabian Poitras from Chief Sunrise Education Centre. Her project continues this same spirit of youth leadership, creating opportunities for girls and young women to feel included, supported, and confident through sport and movement. It reflects the power of student voice, where ideas come directly from those experiencing the gaps and are turned into meaningful action within their community.

Together, these projects reflect what is possible when young people are given the space and support to lead.

This initiative is about more than funding. It is about trust. Trusting youth to identify what their communities need. Trusting their ideas. And supporting them in bringing those ideas to life.

We are grateful to Canadian Women & Sport for making this possible, and we are proud of the students and communities who stepped forward. These are the kinds of projects that strengthen not just sport, but connection, confidence, and community across the North.