A NEW DAY Youth and Adult Services
Grantee
Seed Grant
Award amount
$75,100
Award timeline
2024–2025 (6 months)
Age group
Youth (13-24)
Catchment
Champlain
Community size
Rural
Population served
2SLGBTQIA, Girls, Boys
Opportunity
With the pervasive use of social media and digital communication, young people are more vulnerable than ever to grooming and exploitation. A NEW DAY saw an urgent need to address these risks by equipping at-risk youth with the tools to recognize and prevent exploitation, while giving them a platform to share their own stories.
Approach
Selected Project Outcome: Design and/or pilot an innovative program or service to address a community need.
With a $75,100 Seed grant, A NEW DAY launched the 'Strength in Stories' project, focused on digital storytelling workshops where youth create educational videos on online safety. Participants gain valuable skills in media production, storytelling, and self-expression, fostering resilience and peer-to-peer learning.
Community impact
The project has already produced culturally relevant, trauma-informed educational resources now in use by schools and community agencies across Ontario. These tools are equipping hundreds of youth with the knowledge to spot red flags, seek help, and support each other online.
“This grant didn’t just create content, it catalyzed change and amplified survivor voices in a way that will influence prevention efforts for years to come.” – A NEW DAY Project Lead
A NEW DAY Youth and Adult Services, situated in Gloucester, Eastern Ontario, recognized that young people continue to face growing risks of being exploited or trafficked, and that peer-led education could be a powerful tool for prevention. With a $75,100 Seed grant, they brought together at-risk youth for hands-on workshops in digital storytelling, teaching them how to create videos on grooming, consent, and digital boundaries.
These youth weren’t just passive learners. They became prevention leaders, using their lived experience to inform content that speaks directly to their peers. The resulting 'Strength in Stories' video series is now being used in classrooms, community organizations, and training sessions province-wide.
Beyond producing resources, the project gave participants tangible skills in media production, boosted their confidence, and built a network of support. For the broader community, it’s a lasting investment in digital literacy and safety. By centering youth voices, the initiative is shaping a safer online environment and fostering resilience that will positively impact communities and young people for years to come.