Connecting Youth With The Young Diplomats of Canada

The Young Diplomats of Canada is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes the diplomatic leadership of young Canadians through international delegations, research projects, and advocacy initiatives. They work both locally and internationally, providing advocacy experience for their members through training and global partnerships.

YDC is helping build Canada’s next generation of leaders who, in time, will become the national voice of Canada's foreign policy.

To accomplish this mission, young diplomats need to be connected with opportunities — that’s where Ellum comes in.

Ellum was tasked with designing and building an online youth opportunity database that would serve as the hub for any Canadian youth seeking experience in diplomatic and governmental fields.

As the Young Diplomats explain:

‍“Accessibility is a key determinant that affects whether young people actively engage youth-led organizations. In today’s world, access to accurate and reliable information is a critical component to civic engagement. As a young person in Canada, it can be difficult to understand the youth civil society landscape and even more difficult to know where your contributions can be most meaningful. Until now, a robust and curated catalogue of youth-led organizations in Canada has not existed.”

The design is not only elegant and engaging, but works to connect young people with the organizations that interest them and provide readily available information on a wide range of groups.

The work follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) and is compliant under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Now, the database ensures that young people have access to the tools they need to further democratize youth engagement and gain the skills necessary to change the world.