It Gets Better Canada to Fund 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Storytelling Projects in High Schools Across Canada

October 29, 2024

It Gets Better Canada (IGBC) is proud to announce the twelve projects across high schools in Canada that its True Voices grant, an initiative designed to empower, inspire, and encourage 2SLGBTQ+ and allied secondary students from coast-to-coast-to-coast, will be funding. This groundbreaking program aims to harness the power of storytelling to help youth overcome the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada, made possible with financial support from American Eagle.

The True Voices initiative will fund storytelling-focused projects in twelve high schools across Canada, ensuring that every corner of the nation can benefit from the transformative power of art that uplifts and connects 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Grants of up to $5,000 have been awarded to schools, where students will work on creative projects from podcasts to plays, zines to short films.

The program has been created to support the need for inclusive, affirming spaces in schools, particularly given the rise in anti-2SLGBTQ+ policies in many provinces that threaten the freedoms and safety of youth.

“We were delighted to read through the applications for the True Voices grant, and cannot wait to see the projects come to life. By awarding funding to schools right across the country, we hope to encourage students to express their experiences through different mediums, build connections with their peers, and develop community and solidarity for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies.” - Omid Razavi (he/him), Executive Director at It Gets Better Canada.

The youth-led projects include a range of storytelling techniques and mediums, including a series of music videos that will be created by students at a school in Manitoba; a book shining a light on life in the Yukon for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, expressed through short stories, art, and poetry; a podcast series covering 2SLGBTQ+ history, experiences, and current events in B.C.; and many more creative endeavours. Newell Johnson, a teacher at Allison Bernard Secondary School in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia said,

“True Voices has allowed [our] students to create a Two Spirit colouring book and we are so excited for this process. Our students have the opportunity to ignite their creativity in a safe space that allows them to speak their voice and to share with other First Nation Communities what they wished they had when they were in Elementary school. This project will engage Elders as well as youth in the creation and discussions that emerge from the project.”

Successful applicants are now receiving funding and will begin work on their projects, to be completed by June 2025.

About It Gets Better Canada

It Gets Better Canada is a registered charity in Canada that envisions a world where all 2SLGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals. Its mission is to uplift, empower, and connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Canada.

Please visit www.itgetsbettercanada.org for more information, and join the conversation on all social platforms @itgetsbettercanada (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads).

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact: Deepa Lalwani (she/her)

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