About Us

Who We Are

Youth Friendly, a consulting program under Apathy is Boring, collaborates with partners to drive social innovation by strategically and intentionally integrating diverse youth perspectives in their work and practices. Through a thorough framework and carefully curated services, our mission is to educate and train our partners on creating spaces where youth can have a tangible impact on the conditions they live in, especially within our democratic institutions.

Apathy is Boring was founded in 2004, when a choreographer, a filmmaker, and a fashion photographer met at a party. Troubled by how few of their friends were actively participating in Canada’s democracy, they started a campaign to mobilize youth to vote during the 2004 federal election. The organization has since grown into a national charitable organization, that supports and educates youth (18-30) to be active and contributing citizens in Canada’s democracy.

Youth Friendly is partially funded by the government of Canada under the Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program and the Investment Readiness Program.

How We Create Change

Youth Friendly is brought to you by a By Youth For Youth (BYFY) organization. We are a leader in reaching and engaging youth. We have designed the language, imagery and channels to not only get messages across, but actually get youth to walk to the polling station, or even enrol as RISE ambassadors to become positive change-makers in their community.

Our promises to you:

Authenticity & Credibility : AisB has a strong credibility as a grassroots organization
Run by youth : Almost the entirety of AisB’s leadership is under 35, so we know what we’re talking about.
Non-Partisan : AisB has made a lasting reputation as a non-partisan organization and Youth Friendly’s partners steer clear of any political affiliation
Locally-anchored national perspective : We build the best practices of youth engagement through doing the groundwork first and learning from our nationally-run, community-focused programs

What We Value

Youth as Decision Makers

We create space for youth in decision making roles. We support and encourage governments and institutions to do the same.

Being Accountable

We are accountable to young Canadians. We remain authentic, open to debate and discussion. We are transparent about our successes and failures.

Reaching the Unengaged

We do the hard work to reach and activate unengaged youth. We recognize that systems of oppression affect youth’s ability to engage in democracy in different ways and don’t assume universal experiences. We believe that having more inclusive participation in our democracy is one way to have a more equitable society.

Being Accessible

We provide low risk entry points. We go to where young people are and don’t expect them to come to us. We consider how our activities and resources support broad participation, where possible breaking down physical, linguistic or visual barriers.

Providing Information

We provide information in an accessible way to educate and inform young people. We don’t believe in preaching, we value non-partisanship. We provide road maps, showing how the process works.

Being Intergenerational

We value intergenerational relationships, and seek out support from elders and community leaders.