In 2015, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion established a committee of DEI professionals to develop a program called See Different for high school students to explore the concepts of identity, diversity and inclusion, power and privilege, conflict management, peer mediation, and allyship.
The program ran successfully for four years and, in 2022, was redesigned based on inspiring feedback from youth who found it impactful and wanted a fresh, modern approach.
See Different today is a free diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and certification program and national network for youth in Canada aged 15-26. Our program is offered both virtually or in-person and is available in both English and French.
See Different has three components:
"I enjoyed the workshops immensely and loved the online format. I felt the length was fair and the breaks and warm up activities were appropriate and helped to make me comfortable enough to share with others." - Logan, Manitoba
See Different workshops are designed to help participants connect their conceptual understandings to their personal experiences. By encouraging individuals to share their perspectives, we create learning environments that foster vulnerability, authenticity, and accountability.
Learners have the opportunity to progress through two separate certificates – the first offers important foundational knowledge, while the second dives into advanced concepts and practical applications of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our scaffolded learning approach ensures that participants build on their knowledge and skills progressively, gaining a deeper understanding with each step and moving from understanding to action.
Graduates of our program are invited to join the National Youth Ambassador Network, a community of like-minded individuals committed to addressing systemic barriers to equity and inclusion across Canada. The network offers ongoing educational programming and events, and a platform for sharing ideas and strategies.
Through our Changemaker grants, we provide financial support and mentorship opportunities for participants to turn their ideas into impactful actions by planning and implementing a project in their school or community that addresses a barrier to equity and inclusion.