A woman wearing a Tanzanian soccer jersey with a knit hat looking at the camera

Driving transformative change for women

HerStart builds on YCI's legacy of partnering with youth to reshape the world so women have an equal opportunity to thrive.

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A 30-year history working alongside youth

YCI is driven by youth and their potential to affect positive change on communities, countries and the world. In designing HerStart, we’ve applied insights from decades of implementing programs in over 17 countries to ensure that gender equality is at the heart of our work.

In the past 5 years alone, we’ve seen the power of youth innovation to:

Provide 85,000+ young people with access to employment and entrepreneurship programs in collaboration with 26 partners.

Create opportunities for 600+ Canadians to share their skills and grow new solutions with communities around the world.

Launch or scale 580 new businesses, 60% of which are owned by women, through seed funding and mentorship.

Meet some young women leading change around the world

"Participating in HerStart and receiving the Catalyst Fund changed my life. I started believing in myself and I am now inspiring people in my community."

— Natasha Ruth, HerStart entrepreneur in Uganda

"I advanced my communication and evaluation skills and gained an applied understanding of how partnerships play a crucial role in sustainable development."

— Aimi, HerStart Fellow in Tanzania

"YCI’s HerStart program has sparked a new view of entrepreneurship through its training. Many social enterprises led by young women are springing up."

— Millicent from Bolgatanga Technical University, HerStart partner in Ghana

Taking action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action and partnership towards peace and prosperity for all people and the planet. Our current realities resulting from COVID-19, threaten the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and we must work together now more than ever to continue pushing for progress.

YCI’s HerStart initiative contributes to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development by harnessing the potential of youth, especially young women, who are more than twice as likely as young men to not be in employment, education or training.

Goal 1
No poverty Goal 5
Gender equality Goal 8
Decent work and
economic growth Goal 13
Climate action Goal 17
Partnerships for
the goals

Goal 1
No poverty

Youth, especially young women, face unique challenges to realizing meaningful employment and a sustainable income. In Africa, sub-Saharan youth who work and still live in poverty has increased by more than 10 million in the past decade, to 65.8 million - higher than in any other region. YCI's HerStart initiative works with young people in these regions to break down those barriers and create solutions that increase financial stability and independence.

Goal 5
Gender equality