If you’re thinking about joining YAC, what better way to learn about what’s involved than to hear from current YAC members? Here’s what some of our members had to say:

"If you are a young person looking to make a difference, the Youth Advisory Council is where you need to be. The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation is closely connected to the community and knows where the needs lie. As YAC, we seek to address the most important issues affecting the lives of youth in KW, and, have the tools to make that difference."

"I joined YAC because I wanted to be more involved in my community and I really liked how the endowment fund works - it's a self renewing donation. I enjoy YAC's open attitude towards trying new ways of achieving its objectives and getting out into the community. As a YAC member creating presentations has been fun and I look forward to participating in the on-site visits involved in the granting process."

"I joined YAC through a close friend of mine, and it was one of the best decisions I made in my university career. As a member of YAC, I sit on the Grants Committee of The Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation. This position has given me the opportunity to not only become more aware of the current projects operated by not-for-profit organizations, but also the ability to recognize social needs within my own community. Aside from site-visits, I also made connections with individuals from different walks of life, and was able to gain a multi-dimensional perspective on key community issues. I highly recommend joining the Youth Advisory Council to any young individual who is looking for a multi-faceted group in which they can directly give back to their community."

"I joined YAC as a first-year university student. Since I was still adjusting to the workload at school, I found it difficult to join volunteer groups without limiting my time for homework. However, I still wanted to remain involved in the community. I started looking through some of my high school notes from student council conferences and I came upon some information about the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). I emailed the group’s chairperson, attended a meeting and learned that while the meetings were a small time commitment, I could still remain involved in the community by participating in volunteer events and in the granting process. As a YAC member, I attend meetings and take part in various volunteer opportunities. As a new member, I am constantly learning more about the granting process and about YAC itself. This fall, I helped with registration at the Festival of Neighbourhoods. I also attended a meeting for the Grants Committee and am looking forward to becoming more involved with that in the near future."

"I decided to join YAC over a year ago when a friend brought me to one of the meetings. It seemed to be a great group to join because it was volunteering unlike any other that I have done or heard of. At the time I was Co-Premier at my school, member of several clubs and actively engaged locally in the community and nationally, especially with The Students Commission/Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement. Because I did not have much free time, I was hesitant to join. However, YAC is extremely flexible and it does not require too much time to be taken from your already crazy schedule. Being on YAC is great fun! There is so much to learn, great people to meet and fun activities to be a part of. It is a great experience."

"As a university student with multiple demands, YAC offers flexibility in terms of how much and how little you want to contribute to its activities. As well, being a part of the Council, I am able to connect with other youth-related organizations through partnership or through volunteer activities. This has given me the opportunity to learn about different services and meet with diverse people within the K-W Region."

"I joined YAC because I wanted volunteer in my community. I found that being a member of YAC allowed me to volunteer in a unique way. Not only have I been able to volunteer, but I have been able to strengthen my leadership and team skills. YAC is a great experience and allows you to make a lasting difference in your community."