Social Innovation Project

Community Living Mississauga is seeking volunteers to help celebrate 30 years of its Community on Campus partnership with UTM. Volunteers will capture and share the stories of participants and student volunteers through a series of engaging promotional and orientation videos. Tasks include digitizing archival photographs, filming and editing video content, and creating resources that highlight the program’s impact. This project will help raise awareness, strengthen volunteer recruitment, and showcase how inclusive campus experiences support adults with intellectual disabilities.

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 12pm - 1pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments: 

• Art and Visual Studies
• Communications and Technology

Organization: Community Living Mississauga

We provide support to people who have an intellectual disability. Through our Community on Campus program, adults aged 21-30 are supported by UTM student volunteers to experience and be fully included in campus life. Volunteers support participants to do things like playing basketball/squash/table tennis, go swimming, participate in Zumba classes or workouts in the RAWC, audit classes, attend campus events, and more.

Challenge

We're celebrating the 30th anniversary of Community on Campus and the partnership with UTM. We want to raise awareness of the program and recruit new volunteers.  

Project

We'd like a series of promotional videos to be filmed, edited and produced so that we can showcase the good work we're doing, recruit new volunteers and improve the orientation process for volunteers as they begin their placement with us.

Evergreen Communication Therapy is seeking volunteers to help design a meaningful one-day camp experience for adults living with aphasia and other acquired communication disorders. Volunteers will research accessible venues, develop engaging activities, create participant resources, and plan the logistics needed to bring the event to life. Working closely with clinicians and advocates, the team will build a comprehensive event plan that prioritizes communication accessibility, social connection, and inclusion. This project will provide Evergreen with a ready-to-use blueprint for a unique community experience that supports confidence and engagement.

Please Note: Participants in this project will be required to complete the following requirements:

• Participation in one aphasia conversation group session during the fall semester to enhance awareness and understanding of the community we serve. Virtual sessions are available Tuesday to Friday, mornings or afternoons, and last 1–2 hours. Students can schedule attendance based on their availability and only need to attend once.
• Sign Evergreen Communication Therapy's Confidentiality Agreement.

Weekly meetings will take place Tuesdays 4pm - 5pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Communications and Technology
• Management
• Psychology

Organization: Evergreen Communication Therapy

Evergreen Communication Therapy is a collaborative team of professionals dedicated to providing evidence-based, functional therapy for individuals and families affected by aphasia and other acquired communication disorders. We are strong advocates for people living with communication challenges, offering a respectful and supportive environment where clients can build skills and confidence. Our work extends beyond therapy to actively seeking opportunities to reduce communication barriers and promote communication accessibility both in our community and within our practice.

Challenge

We would like a team of student volunteers to fully develop the plan for a one-day aphasia camp for adults living with aphasia. Our organization would like to host a one-day camp experience for adults living with aphasia. However, our team has limited time and capacity to research and coordinate all of the planning required for a new event. This includes finding a suitable and accessible location, developing the day's schedule and activities, researching supplies and vendors, determining staffing and volunteer needs, creating participant materials, developing a budget, and identifying logistical requirements.

We are looking for students to take on the research and planning work so that, by the end of the project, our organization has a comprehensive plan that can be used to implement the event at a later date.  

Project

The students would take the project from the initial concept through the detailed event-planning stage, with guidance and input from our organization.

The students would research and recommend a suitable location, develop a full-day schedule and engaging activities, identify communication and accessibility considerations, research supplies and potential vendors, determine staffing and volunteer requirements, develop participant and volunteer materials, create a preliminary budget, and identify other logistical considerations needed to successfully run the event.

The goal is for the students to complete as much of the planning and preparation as possible during the SIP project period. Although the students would not be responsible for running the camp, our organization hopes to use their completed work to implement the event after the SIP project concludes.

Project SHAMS is seeking volunteers to help improve access to culturally relevant mental health information for Arab and Middle Eastern communities in Peel Region and the GTA. Volunteers will research existing mental health resources, identify information and service-navigation gaps, and help develop a bilingual outreach toolkit. Tasks include creating educational content, designing reusable social media templates, and building a prototype digital resource page. This project aims to reduce stigma, improve awareness of available supports, and make mental health information more accessible for youth, newcomers, and families. 

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 1pm - 2pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Communications and Technology
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Language Studies

Organization: Project SHAMS

Project SHAMS is a youth-led nonprofit initiative that supports Middle Eastern, Muslim, immigrant, newcomer, and underserved communities in Canada through culturally informed health education, advocacy, mentorship, research, and community programming.

We serve youth, families, students, healthcare trainees, professionals, and community members who often face barriers related to stigma, language, culture, access to care, and lack of representation in health spaces.

SHAMS typically serves communities by organizing educational events, health workshops, mentorship opportunities, resource navigation initiatives, research collaborations, and community partnerships that make health information and support more accessible, culturally relevant, and community-centered.

Challenge

SHAMS supports Arab and Middle Eastern communities through culturally grounded health education, mentorship, research, and community outreach. One challenge we face is that mental health information and service-navigation resources are often fragmented, difficult to understand, or not adapted to the cultural and language needs of Arab and Middle Eastern youth, newcomers, and families.

SHAMS has developed educational content and community partnerships, but we need a more organized and reusable system for sharing trustworthy mental health information, reducing stigma, and helping community members understand where and how to seek support.

Project

We hope the SIP volunteer team can research and co-design a bilingual mental health resource and outreach toolkit for Arab and Middle Eastern communities. The students would review existing Canadian and Peel Region mental health resources, identify common information and service-navigation gaps, and organize reliable information in a clear and accessible format. They would then develop a social media campaign, reusable visual templates, and a prototype digital resource page that SHAMS can continue using after the project.

SHAMS will provide its branding, existing educational materials, community context, and regular guidance. All Arabic translations and health-related information will be reviewed by the SHAMS team before publication.

Girl Guides of Canada, Community 16 (Mississauga) is seeking volunteers to help create a sustainable volunteer appreciation program that celebrates the people who make Girl Guiding possible. Volunteers will research recognition best practices, explore potential venues and sponsorship opportunities, and design practical event planning resources. The team will develop a comprehensive toolkit that includes templates, communication materials, and event recommendations to support future celebrations. This project will help strengthen volunteer engagement, foster community connections, and enhance volunteer retention across Girl Guide communities. 

Weekly meetings will take place Tuesdays 2pm - 3pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Communications and Technology
• Economics
• Management
• Art and Visual Studies

Organization: Girl Guides of Canada, Community 16

Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) is a national charitable organization that empowers girls and young women through leadership, outdoor adventure, community service, and personal growth. Community 16 serves youth ages 5–18 in Mississauga through volunteer-led programs, camps, events, and community engagement opportunities. Our volunteers play a critical role in delivering safe, inclusive, and impactful experiences that help girls build confidence, skills, and lifelong connections. 

Challenge

Community 16 relies on dedicated volunteers to deliver quality programming, camps, events, and leadership opportunities for girls and young women. While volunteers make a significant impact, there is currently no standardized approach to recognizing their contributions or planning meaningful appreciation events. The challenge is to develop a sustainable and reusable Volunteer Appreciation Event Toolkit that helps communities effectively recognize volunteers, build community connections, and strengthen volunteer engagement and retention. Through this project, the SIP team will research best practices, identify venues and sponsorship opportunities, and create practical planning resources that can be used by Community 16 and adapted by other Girl Guide communities in the future.  

Project

 Community 16 of Girl Guides of Canada is seeking a team of SIP volunteers to research, design, and develop a Volunteer Appreciation Event Toolkit that can be used to plan and deliver a community-wide celebration recognizing the contributions of Girl Guide volunteers. The project would include venue and sponsor research, event planning resources, volunteer role descriptions, budget and logistics templates, event layouts, recognition activities, and communication materials. The goal is to create a sustainable, reusable resource that can help Girl Guide communities strengthen volunteer recognition, engagement, and retention for years to come. 

The Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET) is seeking volunteers to help launch a community ambassador program that encourages more Peel residents to explore home energy retrofits. Volunteers will refine training materials, develop recruitment campaigns, and support energy literacy workshops focused on climate, energy use, and retrofit opportunities. Through outreach and peer-to-peer engagement, the team will help connect residents with trusted information and available support programs. This project offers hands-on experience in community engagement, sustainability, and behaviour change while advancing a more equitable energy transition. 

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 3pm - 4pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Biology
• Chemical and Physical Sciences
• Communications and Technology
• Economics
• Geography and Environment
• Sociology
• Political Science

Organization: Centre for Community Energy Transformation

The Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET) is a municipally supported non-profit dedicated to advancing the energy transition across Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon). Working with residents, businesses, and community partners, we break down the financial and technical barriers that stand in the way of home and building energy upgrades. Our goal is to help people cut energy costs, live and work more comfortably, and reduce emissions — from single-family homes to the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sector.

Our core work includes free, one-on-one Energy Coaching to help residents navigate home energy upgrades and rebates; the Energy Retrofit Assistance (ERA) program, which funds deep retrofits for low-income and energy-burdened households; and community outreach that partners with local organizations to reach newcomer, racialized, and underserved populations. Throughout our programs, we strive to make an affordable, low-carbon future more accessible for the residents who need it most.

Challenge

Information alone doesn’t move households to act on energy retrofits. CCET’s own research shows that people need trusted, relatable messengers and plain-language guidance; not just facts and rebate lists. As a result, many Peel residents remain at “no engagement” with home energy improvements, even when programs and incentives are available to them.

The challenge is to build a peer-led “ambassador” model — open to all community members, with particular focus on youth, faith-based communities, renters, retrofit-experienced homeowners, and home energy professionals — that moves households from no engagement to a recorded expression of interest, and that equips community members to sustain that engagement beyond a single season.

Project

Students will help CCET refine and pilot a Community Energy Ambassadors campaign that recruits and equips everyday community members to have trusted, peer-to-peer conversations about our personal energy use, home energy retrofits, energy policy, climate change, etc. The project runs in two phases across the October–March timeline: 

Phase 1 — Review, refine & prepare 
Review and refine the ambassador model. CCET will provide a largely developed ambassador model and training curriculum (built on CCET’s existing Train-the-Trainer materials). Students critically review the model and content — researching best practices, testing assumptions, and recommending improvements to ensure the approach, messaging, and materials are effective, accessible, and engaging.  Build recruitment materials. Students help design and produce campaign assets such as recruitment posters, tabling/booth materials, and sign-up tools, and research the most effective recruitment methods (including social media ideas) to attract ambassadors and participants. 

Phase 2 — Run the mini-campaign 
Run one or two small workshops with CCET providing the content and leading delivery, students help organize and host one or two small energy-literacy workshops or events in the nearby community. Capture & systematize. Students track outcomes (conversations and sign-ups → recorded expressions of interest) and package learnings into a replicable toolkit for future cohorts and community partners. 

Up4 The Challenge is seeking volunteers to co-design an engaging STEM learning module with youth in Grades 7–12 as part of a collaboration with the Peel District School Board Centre of Black Excellence. Using Design Thinking and equity-centred approaches, volunteers will help create workshop activities, multimedia resources, and case studies that connect STEM to real-world social issues. Working alongside community leaders, educators, and youth, the team will test and refine their ideas while helping inspire the next generation of diverse STEM changemakers. 

Please Note: Participants in this project will be required to complete the following requirements:

• Complete Up4 the Challenge's Community Agreement.
• Get a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Weekly meetings will take place Wednesdays 12pm - 1pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Communications and Technology
• Biology
• Chemical and Physical Sciences
• History
• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Geography and Environment
• Anthropology

Organization: Up4 the Challenge

Up4 The Challenge is a dynamic, non-profit social enterprise based in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton and Ottawa areas. Our mission is to inspire youth in grades 7-12 to use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) for social impact. Participants use a hands-on, Design Thinking process to imagine and prototype solutions to real-world issues in their communities. Our program is led by professional women in science and engineering having extensive experience in human-centred design. By focusing on diversity, creativity, and experiential learning with community organizations, we enable youth to design more innovative and sustainable solutions to complex challenges. Our program partners include school boards and youth-focussed community organizations, such as BGC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Girls SySTEM Mentorship. 

Challenge

Our project focuses on creating meaningful learning experiences for youth who are underrepresented in the STEM fields to increase their understanding of the value of pursuing these subjects. In this project, we are collaborating with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) Centre of Black Excellence, which was established to disrupt anti-Black racism and support African, Black, and Afro-Caribbean students. The PDSB uses Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Historically Responsive Literacy Framework (HRLF) to support intersectional identities, enhance student engagement, and disrupt systemic inequities.  

Project

Our volunteer student team, reflecting both the broader community and the populations we serve, will co-design with youth in grades 7–12 an innovative design case study aligned with the PDSB Centre of Black Excellence's Black History Month theme for use in our educational workshops. The module will teach workshop participants the design process and mindsets, using a relatable community example to show how STEM and equity-centred design can create positive social impact. Our Up4 The Challenge team and collaborators will support the UTM volunteers in Design Thinking research and testing (e.g., interviews with community leaders and focus groups with youth). Through this process, the post-secondary students will gain an appreciation for inclusive, interdisciplinary Design Thinking leadership practices. 

Links2Care is seeking volunteers to help develop Good Neighbour, Good Tenant, a life skills and housing success program for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Working alongside staff and residents, volunteers will research best practices and design an engaging workshop series focused on topics such as budgeting, communication, conflict resolution, and tenant responsibilities. The team will also create practical resources and an implementation plan to support long-term delivery. This project will help strengthen housing stability, foster community connections, and empower residents to live independently and successfully.

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 12pm - 1pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Biology
• Chemical and Physical Sciences
• Communications and Technology
• Management
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: Links2Care 

Links2Care is a not for profit, charitable community support organization serving seniors, adults with disabilities, children, and families across Halton Region, Mississauga, and South Etobicoke.  

Guided by the vision of "a community that is cared for, always," Links2Care works to enhance wellbeing through access to care and connections, grounded in its values of Respect, Equity, Integrity, Dedication, and Innovation. The organization serves approximately 9,000 individuals each year, supported by a team of more than 250 staff and volunteers.

Links2Care delivers a broad range of free and subsidized programs across three core areas:

• Support for seniors and adults with disabilities: in home services such as bathing assistance, home help, caregiver respite, friendly visiting, home maintenance and repair, meal programs, and community navigation.  
• Support for children and families: EarlyON Child and Family Centres, School-Age child care and the Backpack Program
• Support for people of all ages in need: community navigation, income tax assistance, holiday giving, transitional housing supports, and integrated Community Wellness Hubs in Oakville and Georgetown that bring health, social, and wellness services together in one accessible location.

The organization holds CARF accreditation, reflecting its commitment to quality, accountability, and sound financial stewardship, and has been recognized as a Great Place to Work and a 2026 Best Workplace in Canada.  

Challenge

Many residents entering Links2Care's Navigate Halton Case Management (NHCM) supportive housing program are transitioning out of homelessness and often lack the established social networks, financial stability, and independent living skills needed to sustain long term tenancy. While our case management team provides individualized action plans and weekly navigation support, residents frequently face recurring housing related challenges tied to tenant responsibilities, budgeting, household management, communication, and conflict resolution. These gaps can place housing stability at risk and, in some cases, contribute to escalation processes that jeopardize a resident's occupancy.  

The core challenge is the absence of a structured, consistent, and evidence informed curriculum to build these essential life and tenancy skills. Currently, life skills development is delivered informally and varies by individual navigator and resident circumstance, which limits consistency, scalability, and measurable outcomes. There is a clear need for a standardized, sustainable curriculum that equips residents with the practical knowledge and confidence to succeed as tenants, strengthen community living, and progress toward independence.  

Through the University of Toronto Mississauga's Social Innovation Project, we are hoping the volunteer team can help tackle this challenge by working alongside staff and residents to design the Good Neighbour, Good Tenant curriculum. This would create a replicable, resource supported model that promotes housing stability, personal responsibility, and community engagement, while reducing housing related challenges and fostering a safer, more connected residential community.

Project

Links2Care proposes the development of Good Neighbour, Good Tenant, a structured life skills and tenancy success curriculum for residents in our Navigate Halton Case Management (NHCM) supportive housing program.

In partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga's Social Innovation Project (SIP), student volunteers would work with staff and residents to design an evidence informed workshop series that builds housing stability, personal responsibility, community engagement, and independent living skills.

The project would produce a sustainable curriculum, facilitator resources, participant materials, and an implementation plan for integration into ongoing supportive housing programming. By equipping residents with practical knowledge in tenant responsibilities, communication, budgeting, conflict resolution, and household management, the initiative aims to strengthen tenancy success and foster a safer, more connected community. The curriculum is also designed to be scalable and adaptable for use across other supportive housing and community based programs in the future.

Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) and LivedMatch are seeking volunteers to help expand opportunities for people affected by preterm birth and NICU experiences to contribute to research and innovation. Volunteers will explore funding opportunities, develop outreach strategies, and create resources to engage researchers, organizations, and individuals with lived experience. Working at the intersection of health, community engagement, and social impact, the team will help build a sustainable growth plan for LivedMatch, strengthening connections that ensure lived experience voices inform research and decision-making across Canada. 

Weekly meetings will take place Wednesdays 3pm - 4pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Biology
• Chemical and Physical Sciences
• Communications and Technology
• Economics
• Management 
• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: Canadian Premature Babies Foundation x LivedMatch

LivedMatch and the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) work together to connect people affected by preterm birth and NICU experiences with research, advisory, and engagement opportunities. CPBF supports preterm babies and their families through education, advocacy, and community programs, while LivedMatch helps create meaningful partnerships between people with lived experience and project teams.  

Challenge

The Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) and LivedMatch are working together to help connect people with lived experience, such as NICU parents and adults born preterm, with researchers and project teams that need their advice.

The LivedMatch platform has been built, but we do not yet have steady funding to pay our developers and keep growing. We also need more people with lived experience (PWLE) to join the platform and more organizations to partner with us.

We are looking for students to help us explore how LivedMatch can raise money, reach more people and build relationships with organizations across Canada. 

Project

 Students will help create a practical growth plan for LivedMatch.

During the first half of the project, students will get to know one another and learn about CPBF, LivedMatch and the importance of including people with lived experience in research. They will research ideas and work together to decide which ideas are most promising.

During the second half, students will create materials that LivedMatch can use to apply for funding, approach new partner organizations and invite more people with lived experience and researchers to join the platform.

This project is a good opportunity for students interested in business, health, social impact, communications, design, research, technology or community work. Students will be able to contribute ideas and use their different skills to help a Canadian startup grow. 

BacharLorai Global (BLG) is seeking volunteers to launch an expert interview series for ImpactInk, its journalism platform focused on AI governance and immigration policy. Volunteers will identify and engage leading researchers and practitioners, conduct interviews, and transform their insights into publication-ready articles for a public audience. Working with guidance from BLG's Editor in Chief and Director of Policy Research, the team will help broaden diverse expert voices, produce the first articles in the series, and create resources to support its long-term sustainability. 

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 11am - 12pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Communications and Technology
• English and Drama
• Economics
• Political Science
• Philosophy

Organization: BacharLorai Global (BLG)

BLG enables the development of people and places worldwide, through our nine programs for community, research and welfare.

Challenge

BacharLorai Global publishes ImpactInk, a journalism platform covering AI governance and immigration policy, but we want to expand the range of expert voices we feature so we can publish more consistently against our research agenda.  

Project

We are hoping the volunteer team will launch an expert interview series for ImpactInk. Students would identify and approach researchers and practitioners working on AI governance and on immigration and integration, conduct the interviews, and write them up as publication ready articles under an ImpactInk byline. Our ambition for the series is roughly twelve articles across the cycle. Their work is to launch the series, produce the first set of pieces, and leave behind a documented process the publication can keep running. Professional writing students are a strong fit, since the core skill is interviewing and clear writing for a general reader, and we can supply past examples, editorial guidelines and direct supervision from our Editor in Chief and Director of Policy Research.

The Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM) is seeking volunteers to help uncover why many local residents remain unaware of one of the city's free contemporary art destinations. Through community research, surveys, interviews, and audience analysis, volunteers will explore barriers to engagement and identify opportunities to connect with new visitors. The team will develop practical outreach and communications strategies, recommend community partnerships, and create an implementation roadmap to help the AGM strengthen its visibility, accessibility, and impact across Mississauga's diverse communities. 

Please Note: Participants may be asked to sign AGM's confidentiality agreement.

Weekly meetings will take place Wednesdays 11am - 12pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Communications and Technology
• Management
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: Art Gallery of Mississauga

The Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM) is a free public contemporary art gallery located in the Mississauga Civic Centre, and a registered non profit. As one of Canada's few public galleries with free admission, AGM is committed to making contemporary art accessible to everyone through exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement.

AGM serves a diverse audience, including children, youth, adults, seniors, artists, educators, newcomers, and families from across Mississauga and the surrounding region. Through free exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, school visits, family programs, and community partnerships, we create opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with contemporary art, develop creative skills, and build meaningful connections within their community. 

Challenge

The Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM) is a free public art gallery offering contemporary exhibitions and free community programming. One piece of feedback we consistently hear from visitors is that the gallery is a "hidden gem". Many people tell us they had never heard of the AGM before visiting. We would like to better understand why many Mississauga residents are unaware of the gallery, what barriers prevent first-time visits, and how we can become a more visible, welcoming, and accessible cultural destination for the diverse communities we serve.  

Project

We are seeking a student team to research community awareness of the AGM and develop an outreach and engagement strategy to help us connect with audiences who are not currently engaging with the gallery.

The project may include community and audience research, interviews or surveys with residents, identifying barriers to participation, exploring how different communities learn about local cultural opportunities, and developing practical recommendations for outreach, partnerships, and communications that support greater public awareness and participation in the AGM's free exhibitions and educational programs. 

The Canadian Premature Babies Foundation is seeking an undergraduate student team to help design a caregiver-first respite program for families caring for high-need infants after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Students will examine how caregivers should request or be referred for respite, how requests can be assessed fairly and efficiently, which services should qualify, and how the program can work in urban, rural and underserved communities.  

The project will balance direct program design with grant strategy. Students will develop simple intake and assessment tools, recommend safety and provider standards, propose low-burden measures of caregiver benefit, and create a sustainability and scalability plan. The work will support CPBF in preparing a strong future application to the Petro Canada CareMakers Foundation National Grant program, while recognizing that future application requirements must be confirmed when the next grant cycle opens. 

Please Note: Participants in this project will be required to complete the following requirements:

• Sign Canadian Premature Babies Foundation's Confidentiality Agreement.

Weekly meetings will take place Tuesdays 2pm - 3pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Communications and Technology
• Management
• Sociology

Organization: Canadian Premature Babies Foundation

Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) is a Canadian charitable organization that supports premature babies and their families through education, advocacy, peer and family support, and collaboration across the neonatal community. This student project extends that work into the transition from NICU to home by focusing directly on the needs and capacity of unpaid family caregivers. 

Challenge

Leaving the NICU can shift a family from continuous hospital support to round-the-clock responsibility at home. Caregivers may be managing feeding, monitoring, appointments, therapies, medications or other demanding routines while also coping with fatigue, stress and limited informal support. Access to respite is uneven: overnight newborn-care services may be available in some cities, while rural and remote families may have few comparable options.  

CPBF needs a model that is flexible without becoming unclear or difficult to administer. The program must distinguish genuine respite - a qualified service that temporarily relieves the caregiver of caregiving responsibilities - from general wellness or household expenses. It must also match the service to the child’s needs and the provider’s capability, without requiring CPBF to conduct a complex clinical assessment.  

A future funding request must show more than the benefit to individual families. It should demonstrate an equitable, repeatable pathway, measurable caregiver outcomes, responsible financial controls, and a credible plan for continuation or expansion.

Project

The student team will research and co-design a practical Post-NICU Caregiver Respite Program. The initial service concept includes up to $700 per eligible family for qualified respite. In locations served by The New Mummy Company, this may include overnight in-home care. Elsewhere, including rural communities, eligible options could include other qualified services that temporarily assume or support essential care so that the caregiver receives protected time away from caregiving. 

Students will not make clinical decisions or assess individual families. Their role is to recommend a transparent program framework that CPBF and appropriate referral or service partners can use. Recommendations should prioritize simplicity, equity, safety, privacy, feasibility and caregiver benefit. 

A Greener Future is seeking volunteers to help grow environmental action in Hamilton by developing a community-focused volunteer recruitment strategy. Volunteers will research local demographics, connect with environmental leaders, and identify organizations and community spaces that can support outreach efforts. Through interviews, community analysis, and partnership mapping, the team will uncover what motivates Hamilton residents to get involved in local environmental initiatives. This project will provide A Greener Future with practical recommendations to strengthen volunteer recruitment, increase engagement, and build a more sustainable volunteer network. 

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 2pm - 3pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Anthropology
• Communications and Technology
• Geography and Environment
• Management
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: A Greener Future

A Greener Future is an environmental non-profit dedicated to leading the effort in sustaining a clean and healthy environment. By bringing together a community of volunteers and environmental stewards, we facilitate programs that eliminate waste from the environment. As education is at the centre of what we do, we inspire change through a variety of learning opportunities. Our programs raise awareness about plastic pollution in the Great Lakes Region, and detailed data collection sheds light on the most common items that are found during litter cleanups. Together, our impact is wide-reaching, bringing us one step closer to our goal. 

Challenge

We are challenged with recruiting and retaining a consistent volunteer base in the Golden Horseshoe region. We have tried various strategies to engage Hamilton residents and this region always has the lowest numbers of volunteers across our regions.

Project

We want to create a recruitment strategy tailored to Hamilton by learning about their local context, what they care about, and the demographics of the region. 

Embrave Agency to End Violence is seeking volunteers to help strengthen supports for Francophone and Indigenous survivors of gender-based violence. Volunteers will research community resources and develop clear referral pathways that connect clients to culturally relevant supports. The team will also create practical guidelines and best-practice resources to enhance service delivery and accessibility. This project will help Embrave expand its network of partnerships, improve client experiences, and ensure survivors can access the specialized supports they need. 

Please Note: Participants in this project will be required to complete the following requirements:

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 1pm - 2pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Communications and Technology
• Language Studies
• Management
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: Embrave Agency to End Violence

Embrave Agency to End Violence is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, counselling, and advocacy supports for women, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary folks and their children impacted by gender-based violence. We amplify the voices of survivors, educate the community, and inspire systemic change to create a society free of violence. 

Challenge

Our organization is required to offer French and Indigenous-specific supports but these areas require further development and accessible resources.  

Project

We hope to establish referral pathways and improve programs and services. For Francophone clients, this can be supported through further partnership development with OASIS (currently in conversation) for example. For Indigenous clients, there's currently no assigned organization to support us.

Solidarity Engineering is seeking volunteers to help create engaging educational resources for displaced and vulnerable communities around the world. Volunteers will research effective ways to communicate women’s health and STEM concepts, gather feedback from learners, and design interactive workshop materials that are accessible in low-resource settings. The team will develop lesson plans, activities, visual learning tools, and facilitation resources that support local educators in delivering impactful programming. This project will help expand health literacy, foster STEM learning, and strengthen community resilience across diverse humanitarian contexts. 

Weekly meetings will take place Tuesdays 1pm - 2pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Art and Visual Studies
• Biology
• Chemical and Physical Sciences
• Communications and Technology
• Language Studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Organization: Solidarity Engineering

Solidarity Engineering is a non-profit humanitarian organization providing sustainable engineering, public health infrastructure, and educational resources to displaced and vulnerable populations—specifically women, children, and families navigating acute crisis or prolonged displacement across sites in Mexico, Jordan, Ukraine, and the US-Mexico border. We serve these communities through a human-centered public health model encompassing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, clean energy shelter upgrades, data-driven advocacy, and interactive STEM/play education designed to foster cognitive engagement and resilience. Partnering with the University of Toronto Mississauga bridges local academic expertise with global humanitarian needs, enabling multidisciplinary student teams in health sciences, communications, and education to co-design and prototype culturally sensitive toolkits that translate complex field insights into scalable educational resources for underserved populations. 

Challenge

Solidarity Engineering (SE) delivers public health and educational programming to displaced communities in the US-Mexico Border, Jordan, Ukraine, and Texas Colonias -- but our team struggles with limited capacity to consistently design fresh, engaging learning materials and clear outreach guidance for local facilitators. There is a critical gap in low-resource, interactive educational tools that combine women’s health literacy with foundational STEM concepts in accessible ways. We aim to better understand how complex health and science topics can be simplified and communicated effectively and adapt our educational toolkit to ensure local facilitators can confidently deliver these workshops in the field.  

Project

We are looking for a team of student volunteers to act as content co-creators by developing an interactive Women’s Health & STEM Educational Toolkit and a corresponding facilitation strategy. Students will conduct light research on health literacy design standards for teaching health/STEM concepts and then participate in a virtual, collaborative review session with the SE team to test draft infographics and activity formats for visual clarity, readability, and engagement. Using these insights, the student team will design a modular workshop toolkit (featuring activity sheets, lesson plans, and visual guides) and draft a step-by-step outreach and facilitation strategy that our team can adopt for field and workshop implementation, delivering these sensitive topics effectively. 

The City of Mississauga is seeking volunteers to help strengthen youth participation in municipal elections. Volunteers will review past engagement initiatives, analyze election data across wards, and identify opportunities to increase voter turnout among young people. Tasks may include conducting research, facilitating focus groups, reviewing best practices from other jurisdictions, and developing recommendations for future outreach strategies. This project aims to support more effective youth engagement and help build stronger civic participation in future municipal elections. 

Weekly meetings will take place Thursdays 11am - 12pm during the fall semester. Winter meetings will be scheduled with the project team.

Academic Alignments:

• Anthropology
• Communications and Technology
• Geography and Environment
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Psychology

Organization: City of Mississauga

Mississauga is Canada's seventh largest city, home to 795,000 residents, Mississauga is a key economic centre, attracting international talent, global investment and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The City of Mississauga is focused on delivering services, implementing its Strategic Plan, delivering value for money and maintaining infrastructure. Mississauga has built a reputation as an outstanding city in which to live, learn, work and play, where residents can fulfill their future promise and realize their goals.

Challenge

In 2022, the total voter turnout for the 2022 municipal election was 21.84% in Mississauga. Across elections there is a consistent gap in voter turnout between 18- to 24-year-olds and other age groups. This challenge asks how the City might encourage young people to vote, and leverage community partnerships like the MOU with the University of Toronto to support this goal.

Project

Students will support the City of Mississauga with a comprehensive review of engagements done by the City to support youth voter turnout, conduct data analysis to review election results across wards, and identify opportunities to better engage youth in future elections. Work may involve activities like conducting focus groups or jurisdictional scans. Given the MOU between the City of Mississauga and the University of Toronto, this project offers an opportunity to see how there may be future alignment, coordination and co-design of community engagement efforts for future elections.