Receive Microgrant Funding to Connect
Your School with the Local Community
The CONNECT School ↔︎ Community Microgrant Program is an exciting opportunity for Saskatchewan teachers to facilitate meaningful connections for students in the local community. It is the first program of its kind in Saskatchewan.
A collaboration of passion2action Youth Empowerment and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, this program aims to encourage renewed community engagement in schools, offer leadership development opportunities for students, and encourage active citizenship in and out of the classroom.
Applications are Now Open for
the 2024-2025 CONNECT Cohort
Download the application form today and tell us about your project idea to connect students with the community.
Applications are welcomed from teachers and school staff from any school in Saskatchewan.
Applications to be part of the second CONNECT cohort are due on Friday, October 25
Supporting SK Teachers to Create Community Connections
Teachers throughout Saskatchewan are making a positive difference in and out of the classroom everyday. The CONNECT program supports teachers with microgrant funding to facilitate community engagement projects, as well as ideas and guidance from both the passion2action Team and the cohort of CONNECT participants from throughout the province. For students, the program aims to create opportunities for leadership development and foster a culture of active citizenship and community involvement.
Microgrants
Twelve teachers throughout SK will each be awarded a microgrant of up to $500 to help finance their project. Funds are intended to reduce the financial barrier for teachers to facilitate projects and students to participate.
Project Support
From the initial proposal to facilitating the project, our team is there to support participating teachers every step of the way and will be in regular contact to check-in on your progress and provide ideas and guidance.
NETWORKING
To inspire and be inspired, we’re hoping to have the entire CONNECT cohort come together (virtually) on three occasions throughout the year to share project updates and connect with other participants from throughout SK.
Leadership Development
As part of the CONNECT program, teachers will have access to a number of leadership development modules for students to learn important skills for the success of the project and for life. Use of these modules is voluntary.
Community Engagement Focused on Five Themes
All community engagement projects must align with one or more of the program themes. We encourage teachers to propose unique and innovative projects that integrate multiple themes and demonstrate how the different subjects are inter-related.
Arts and Culture
Citizenship and Activism
Environmentalism
Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Truth and Reconciliation
Examples of Previous CONNECT Projects
Our first CONNECT cohort in the 2023-24 school year proudly supported twelve Saskatchewan teachers to facilitate incredible projects that each connected students to the local community in unique and meaningful ways.
A snack cart program to connect students with neurodiverse adults in the local community
Estevan, SK
Expanding a multicultural library with books in every language spoken in the school community
Regina, SK
Facilitating a tipi raising with students at the school alongside teachings from a knowledge keeper
Weyburn, SK
Enhancing the musical theatre program with workshops for students from industry professionals
Balgonie, SK
Connecting students with seniors living in local care homes to play games, share snacks, and socialize
Esterhazy, SK
Establishing a community garden as an agricultural learning space to connect students and producers
Langenburg, SK
Painting stones with local seniors to start a ‘Kindness Garden’ of rocks bearing positive messages
Assiniboia, SK
Collecting, laundering, and donating clothing for those in need as part of life skills training for students
Regina, SK
Developing an Arts Club at the school in collaboration with community artists to support student creativity
Invermay, SK
Engaging in ‘citizen science’ in a bird count and learning about Indigenous ecology through storytelling
Englefeld, SK
Creating class quilts with the help of a local quilting group and teaching students sewing skills
Leader, SK
Supporting elderly residents and those living with physical disabilities by shovelling snow
Kinistino, SK
Frequently Asked Questions
Being part of the second CONNECT cohort during the 2024-2025 school year means that you will be among an inspiring group of teachers from throughout Saskatchewan, each designing and implementing a project to connect students with the local community. It means that your project will be supported with microgrant funding and you will have access to project support, networking, and leadership development modules.
We welcome applications from teachers and school staff from schools throughout Saskatchewan.
The following types of projects are not eligible for the CONNECT program:
× Poorly defined projects lacking specific community partners
× Projects connected to fundraising initiatives that do not offer direct community
engagement opportunities for students
× Regular or recurring school excursions and trips, or out-of-province travel
× Capital expenses or the purchase of equipment for the school
Community engagement projects supported by the CONNECT program must be facilitated during the 2024-2025 school year (i.e. before June 2025). You will be expected to complete a brief post-project report after facilitating the project to share your success and outcomes from the experience.
Applications to be part of the second CONNECT cohort are due by 11:59 PM on Friday, October 25. Late submissions may not be considered by the selection panel.
Please email your completed application to < connect@passion2action.ca >. You will receive a response acknowledging receipt of your application within 72 hours from the passion2action Team.
Have any other questions or concerns? Send our team an email at < connect@passion2action.ca >
The CONNECT program is made possible in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation
