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Through our free educational resources, we enable young equity-deserving people from historically marginalized communities to see themselves as changemakers, find their purpose and make a meaningful difference in their communities.

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Youth leadership

What if all young people saw themselves
as 
changemakers?

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A changemaker is someone who...

grants themselves the permission to drive positive transformation for the benefit of all.

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We provide educators with free, culturally-inclusive resources, rooted in a community-centered philosophy, which supports their practice and helps youth develop their identity, sense of belonging, and agency, empowering them as changemakers. 

Did you know?

A strong sense of identity and belonging contributes to healthier relationships (Allen et al., 2018; Crocetti, Rubini, & Meeus, 2008), greater academic engagement (Gillen-O’Neel and Fuligni, 2013), and enhanced psychological well-being, including reduced anxiety and increased self-esteem (Bogaerts et al., 2023; Crocetti et al., 2015; KaraÅ› et al, 2011). Additionally, these factors are linked to higher levels of civic engagement (Crocetti, Jahromi, & Meeus, 2011) and career readiness (Mameli, Molinari & Passini, 2019). 

Youth leadership

By engaging with UpstartED, educators access an integrated set of resources

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Image by Prophsee Journals

Middle/high-schools resources that enrich their practice

  • Sequenced program options with modifications and adaptations for different learning needs and developmental levels

  • A combination of tactile and digital tools and resources to cater to accessibility needs

  • Units aligned with Canadian provincial curricular standards

Image by Carlos Muza

Assessment tools and data insights on key outcomes

  • Multimodal formative and summative assessment options to track student progress

  • An impact report with quantitative and qualitative insights into student outcomes and classroom culture 

  • Active engagement in the program evaluation process with the UpstartED team

Image by Surface

Educator training and implementation support

  • On-demand support from a Program Success Advisor to assist with lesson planning, modifications and adaptations

  • Teacher toolkit with prompts for self-reflection to promote personal growth

  • A community of practice bringing together like-minded educators

The voices of youth, their families, educators and communities shape the programs we design

We offer a process, not just a program

Rather than designing a 'one-size-fits-all' educational solution, we build culturally-relevant programs that are designed with youth, their educators, families and local communities. In doing so, we enable students to see themselves and their cultures represented as part of their learning.

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Liard McMillan

Teacher at the Individual Learning Center in Whitehorse, Yukon, and former Liard First Nation Chief

Liard McMillan

"UpstartED's approach to learning 

program design is a big thing for us."

By promoting student-led learning, we help foster critical and creative thinking. UpstartED's approach respects First Nations ways of knowing and doing. It also honours individual students​. Our First Nations students don't have to fall through the cracks. 

We are active in schools and learning centers across Canada

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Yukon

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Individual Leaning Center Whitehorse
J.V. Clark School Yukon
Nelnah Bessie John School
St. Elias Community School

Hear from...

Andrew Laviolette

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Career Teacher (Grades 7, 8) from

Robert Service School in

Dawson, Yukon

The content that I went through with my students was not only aligned with what is required of me to teach, but it also allowed them to spend time with important life conceptsIt was great to help students move towards their best selves and I learned alongside them since this was also new to me!

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The You(th) Explore program enriched me as a person

and teacher.

About

We are a Canadian education nonprofit that supports educators and enables youth from equity-deserving groups to see themselves as changemakers, find their purpose and make a meaningful difference in their communities.

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At UpstartED, we acknowledge and respect the land and territory on which we stand. We have the privilege to live, learn, teach and raise our families on the traditional, treaty, and unceded territories of Turtle Island (North America), home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. As a nonprofit that empowers youth to be agents of positive change and responsible citizens, we recognize the importance of and actively support reconciliation efforts in Canada and across the world. Learn more about actions for reconciliation as citizens and educators.

Land acknowledgement

Stay in touch

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We align our work with the United Nations Global Goals

UN SDG 4
UN SDG 5
UN SDG 8
UN SDG 10
UN SDG 11
UN SDG 17.

Copyright © 2025 by UpstartED. All rights reserved.

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