Celebrating Young Social Innovators at the 2025 Sprout Awards!

Many of our Alumni are building on the momentum of their #RisingYouth and Sprout Ideas Fellowship community service projects, and are continuing to drive meaningful change across Canada.

On June 25th, 2025, we celebrated 12 of our alumni at the Sprout Awards ceremony that took place at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. The celebration coincided with our 2025 Sprout Summit where over 57 social innovators from across Canada for a powerful week of connection, learning, and celebration. With over 100 nominees across 11 award categories, these recipients represent thousands of our program alumni who have dedicated their time to positive social impact.

We would like to acknowledge all of the Sprout Award recipients for their contributions to the Fellowship community and their dedication to social innovation! Here is a quick summary of our Award winners and their amazing projects:

Muhammad Ansar received the Eco Innovator Award for his project that focused on environmental education and stewardship projects across Canada, with an emphasis on Indigenous-led facilitation and solutions. Muhammad currently serves as Co-Executive Director at Human Nature Projects Canada, an environmental not-for-profit that has engaged over 10,000 youth globally in environmental education.

Inaam Chattha received the Outstanding Storyteller Award. Inaam co-authored a children’s book, Tory the Tornado, which aims to help children navigate anxiety and emotions through story. He’s also using storytelling in his climate work with his initiative, Green Mind, turning environmental data into narratives of hope and resilience.

Kelvin Doe received the Digital Innovator Award. Kelvin founded Frugal Radio, a youth-led, community-driven online radio station using open-source tech to amplify marginalized voices. With 1,000+ hours of original content and hands-on digital media training, Kelvin is building access, connection, and creativity through technology.

Tooba Dawood received the Project Momentum Award. She is the creator of Love & Help Heal, an organization supporting Toronto’s youth through creative, educational, and community-based initiatives. With a strong background in project management and mentorship, Tooba empowers young leaders to build meaningful change while prioritizing mental well-being.

Kylie Cole received the Sprout Networking Extraordinaire Award. She is the co-founder of the Mentorship & Academic Program (MAP), a youth-led initiative dedicated to increasing access to education through outreach and peer support. Her work bridges health, education, and equity, with a focus on empowering students to build confidence and community.

Vedanshi Vala received one of two Community Mentor Awards. Vedanshi is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of BOLT Safety Society, a ‘tech startup meets nonprofit’ dedicated to creating safer, more equitable communities. Vedanshi has received awards from L’Oréal Paris and the Government of Canada among others, and her international speaking portfolio spans five countries, including at high-level platforms like the United Nations.

Shatabdy Zahid received the second Community Mentor Award. Shatabdy Zahid is a public health researcher and the founder of the environmental education platform, Learning For Our Future. She is passionate about examining health risks and outcomes to create insights that improve population health. As an alumni, Shatabdy has demonstrated unwavering support for Fellows, always showing up with kindness, encouragement, and passion.

Zanna Ekeroth received the Community Champion Award. Zanna founded the Rock On Collective, which is focused on reshaping who belongs in outdoor spaces. Her climbing programs break down barriers for equity-deserving communities, using mentorship and community care to create inclusive, empowering adventures.

Shyla Bhayana and Alexandra Hauser received the Innovator in Action Award. The duo reimagined summer learning by designing London Camp in a Box, creating 170 creative activity packages for kids in low-income communities. Their project made camp fun, hands-on, and accessible — right from home.

Madeline Carr received the Rural Changemaker Award. During the fellowship, she founded Bell Tent Orchard, a retreat and community hub in her rural hometown of Tay Creek, New Brunswick. Today, she continues to grow the initiative by working with local youth and leading a variety of programs focused on community, sustainability, and leadership development.

Dana Solomon received the Indigenous Leadership Award. Dana is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) member of Sagkeeng First Nation and Guyanese, and is a multi-disciplinary artist. She has worked with the Urban Indigenous population at Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre for many years as a youth program coordinator. She also developed an Indigenous-based Dance Program through Council Fire called First Fire. Most recently, Dana supported our Fellows at our Winnipeg Summit where she shared her experiences as a changemaker with 13 young Indigenous social innovators who gathered from across the country.

Stephanie Quon received the #RisingYouth Alumni Award. Stephanie founded The Sprouts Initiative, which has grown into a national organization championing accessibility. She’s raised $3.7 million, launched 90+ accessibility-focused projects, and created the Canadian Network for Accessibility in Healthcare — paving the way for inclusive design and systemic change. Stephanie was also Canada Walk of Fame’s 2024 Community Hero!

Award winners were also given the opportunity to deliver workshops at our 2025 Sprout Summit that took place June 23rd-25th. This created a space for alumni to share their project experiences and lessons learned with 40+ Fellows in the 2025 cohort, allowing for knowledge sharing and relationships building. Congratulations again to our 2025 Sprout Award recipients!

The #RisingYouth and Sprout Fellowship projects were powered by Canada Service Corps funding, and are helping youth turn their ideas into real community impact. TakingITGlobal’s Executive Director, Jennifer Corriero, shares: “Seeing the momentum and impact generated by the Sprout Award recipients is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young leaders are given the tools and encouragement to bring their visions to life. Their projects reflect a diversity of perspectives and a dedication to building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities across Canada. We’re honoured to stand alongside these changemakers as they shape a brighter, more inclusive future.”

More information about the Sprout Ideas Fellowship can be found at SproutIdeas.org.