Aug 27th, 2026

Life beyond Youth Futures

In August, we sat down with a Youth Futures participant and mentor; here’s what they had to say about their experience

Meet Amin, a Youth Futures mentor

• Can you please share a brief bio (2–3 lines)?

I am a Youth Futures mentor and a former participant in the program. I am currently studying International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa and plan to attend law school in the future. I am passionate about supporting youth in reaching their educational and professional goals.

• What motivated you to become a mentor with Youth Futures?

I wanted to become a mentor because I experienced the Youth Futures program myself, and it had a significant impact on me. Both Saeed, who was my mentor, and the program played a crucial role in helping me transition from high school to university and giving me valuable exposure to the professional world. Youth Futures gave me opportunities, experiences, and support that helped shape my path, and I wanted to give back by providing that same support and opportunity to another youth.

• What’s it like being a Youth Futures mentor?

I really love being a Youth Futures mentor. What I enjoy most is being able to support youth through pivotal moments in their lives, such as getting their first professional job and experiencing a professional workplace for the first time. I also really value being able to instill professional and life skills in youth who have so much potential. Being able to support them, build their confidence, and watch them grow throughout the program is incredibly rewarding, especially because I was once in their position myself.

• Were there any challenges you didn’t expect, and how did you handle them?

One challenge I didn’t expect was how different each youth’s needs would be. Every youth has their own personality, circumstances, strengths, and areas where they need support. I learned that being a good mentor means being patient, understanding, and knowing when to have honest conversations. I tried to build trust with the youth while also holding them accountable and reminding them of the goals they were working toward.

• What changes or growth did you notice in the participants you were mentoring over the course of the program?

I noticed a lot of growth in youth throughout the program. At the beginning, many of them were not familiar with how to present themselves in a professional environment or how to navigate post-secondary education and the workplace. Over time, I saw them become more confident, professional, independent, and comfortable communicating with employers and other professionals. Seeing that transformation was one of the most rewarding parts of being a mentor.

• Is there a particular story or memory from this class that stands out?

There was one youth who had quite a few challenges at the beginning of the program. They were often arriving late, had inconsistent communication, and were struggling to meet some of the program requirements. However, I could see that this youth was very well-spoken, capable, and had a lot of potential. I sat down with them and had an honest conversation about the importance of attendance, communication, and taking the opportunity seriously. From that point on, I saw a significant change. By the end of the program, they had really excelled in their placement, and their employer had nothing but positive things to say about them, especially their initiative. Seeing that growth reminded me why mentorship is so important.

• Why do you think Youth Futures is important?

I think Youth Futures is important because it gives youth opportunities and experiences that they may not otherwise have access to. It helps them build confidence, develop professional skills, gain real workplace experience, and learn how to navigate post-secondary education and their careers. What makes the program especially meaningful to me is that it doesn’t just tell youth what is possible; it gives them the support, mentorship, and connections to pursue those opportunities. I know firsthand how much of a difference that can make in a youth’s life.

Meet Lina, a Youth Futures participant

• Can you please share a brief bio? (2-3 lines)

My name is Lina, and I’m a high school student in grade 12 in Ottawa who is passionate about leadership, community involvement, and international affairs. I’m involved in the student government at my school as the president, and I’m a prom representative. I enjoy opportunities that allow me to grow, meet new people, and gain real-world experiences.

• How did you hear about Youth Futures? What made you apply?

I heard about Youth Futures through my school and was interested because it offered an opportunity to gain work experience while also developing skills outside of the classroom. I wanted to challenge myself, meet new people, and get a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a professional environment, and test my commitment skills by attending every Saturday for 5 months straight.

• What’s your experience with Youth Futures?

Overall, my experience with Youth Futures has been really positive. At the beginning, I was nervous because I didn’t really know what to expect, and I was scared that I might not find friends. But as the program went on, I became much more comfortable and confident. I also ended up meeting so many amazing people.

• What are you planning to do after the program? Are you planning to pursue higher education or looking to gain more work experience?

After the program, I plan to continue my education and finish my last year of high school as a senior, then attend university. I’m interested in studying political science, international relations, or a related field because I’m interested in diplomacy, government, and international affairs. I also want to continue gaining work and volunteer experience alongside my education.

• Tell us about your placement. Where was it and what were you doing?

My placement was with the City of Ottawa’s Housing and Homelessness Services team (HHS). I worked as an Office Assistant II co-op student and helped with administrative and organizational tasks, including working with documents, preparing information, supporting team projects, and learning more about housing and homelessness services in Ottawa. I also had the opportunity to create two projects of my own and present them.

• What did you find most stimulating about your placement?

What I found most interesting was getting to see how a large organization like the City of Ottawa works behind the scenes. I especially enjoyed learning about housing and homelessness in Ottawa and seeing how different teams work together to support the community, because working in Housing and Homelessness requires a lot of teaming up. We are in partnership with hospitals, jails, shelters, and overall, a bunch of different sectors that have all come together for the same goal/purpose. It also gave me the opportunity to develop professional communication and organizational skills.

• Do you feel better prepared for life beyond Youth Futures? How so?

Definitely. Before Youth Futures, I had very little work experience, let alone any in a professional workplace, so I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Now I feel more confident communicating with professionals, managing responsibilities, asking questions, using Microsoft apps, which I’ve never used before since we only ever use Chrome and Google at school, and adapting to a workplace environment. I have a much better idea of what a corporate lifestyle looks like now, and I feel this has given me an advantage, because if I want to apply for a job, I can finally say I have work experience, not just volunteering experience.

• What’s the most important skill or lesson you’ve learned from this program?

The most important lesson I learned is that it’s okay not to know everything when you start something new. Asking questions, being willing to learn, and putting yourself out there can make a huge difference. I also learned the importance of communication and being dependable. At first, I was nervous and scared about the fact that I quite literally did not know what was going on, and I tried figuring it out by myself, but I felt lost. But eventually I learned that asking questions is a part of my job, and that sometimes it’s okay to not figure it out on your own, especially because I worked in a very close team that always asked each other questions.

• What’s your favourite memory from the program?

One of my favourite parts of the program was getting to know the other youth in my cohort. It was nice being around people my age who were also learning, growing, and experiencing something new, and it was also nice to have university students as mentors because if I ever had any questions about university, they could answer my questions from experience. I’ll remember the connections I made and how much more confident I became throughout the program.