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impact

Our impact

Patients/older adults engaged
2600 +
Partnered
locations
0 +
Recruited Volunteers
550 +
Painting
workshops held
300 +
Art pieces produced
2700 +

Our benefits

Youth

Builds confidence, strengthens leadership and teamwork skills, increases volunteer engagement

Older Adults

Learn a new skill, aids their recuperation, promotes socializing and holistic well-being

Intergenerational Connection

  • Combat ageism, expand world-view, build strong community
  • Increases self esteem and life satisfaction for both youth7 and older adults8
  • Negatively correlated with youth depression7
  • Improves older adult physical and mental health9
  • Combats social isolation and negative stereotypes of older adults10
  • Strengthens youth leadership11, civic engagement7, and the community9

Art as a Hobby

  • Reduces stress14,15
  • Positive mood and mental health12,13
  • Improves cognitive and dexterity skills16,17
  • Boosts self-esteem and creativity18
  • Overall life satisfaction19

Youth centric volunteerism

You can create social impact with your hobbies

get involved

Volunteering can be a win-win opportunity to uplift your community, enhance your professional skills and personal growth, and have fun engaging with your passions in the process.

We strive to re-imagine volunteering as an extension of your hobbies, not just some mandatory requirement consisting of mundane tasks. Hobbies you love to engage in during your free time, such as painting, have the potential to create enormous positive impact.

Reconceptualizing volunteering as fun and enjoyable allows youth to creatively integrate their passions and make a real difference in their communities. This reframing cultivates a spirit of sustained, life-long volunteerism as youth are able to participate in service opportunities that are genuinely interesting and fulfilling to them. We invite you to take control of your volunteering experience today and be part of a youth-led movement that transforms hobby-based activities into social impact!

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  1. Kim J, Morgül K. Long-term consequences of youth volunteering: Voluntary versus involuntary service. Soc Sci Res [Internet]. 2017 Sep 1 [cited 2024 Sep 12];67:160–75. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28888284/
  2. Krzeczkowska A, Spalding DM, McGeown WJ, Gow AJ, Carlson MC, Nicholls LAB. A systematic review of the impacts of intergenerational engagement on older adults’ cognitive, social, and health outcomes. Ageing Res Rev. 2021 Nov 1;71:101400. 
  3. Murayama Y, Murayama H, Hasebe M, Yamaguchi J, Fujiwara Y. The impact of intergenerational programs on social capital in Japan: A randomized population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2019 Feb 6 [cited 2024 Aug 25];19(1):1–9. Available from: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-6480-3
  4. Kirk L, Eull D, Flaten C, Paun O. Combating Social Isolation in Older Adults An Intergenerational Nursing Communication Project. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2023 Oct 1;61(10):7–11. 
  5. Ekici H, Yücel E, Köse MF. Youth Voice Journal. 2022 [cited 2024 Sep 12]. Does Volunteering Frequency Foster Moral Courage in Young People? The Mediatory Role of Leadership Self-Efficacy. | Youth Voice Journal | EBSCOhost. Available from: https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A16%3A11568272/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A161194824&crl=c
  6. The Big Impact of a Small Hobby – The New York Times [Internet]. [cited 2024 Sep 16]. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/well/mind/coronavirus-health-benefits-drawing-art-hobbies.html
  7. Drake JE. Examining the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of drawing over one month. Psychol Aesthet Creat Arts. 2019 Aug 1;13(3):338–47. 
  8. Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J. Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making. Art Therapy [Internet]. 2016 Apr 2 [cited 2024 Sep 16];33(2):74–80. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832
  9. Stuckey HL, Nobel J. The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature. Am J Public Health [Internet]. 2010 Feb 1 [cited 2024 Sep 16];100(2):254. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC2804629/
  10. Kaimal G, Ayaz H, Herres J, Dieterich-Hartwell R, Makwana B, Kaiser DH, et al. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy assessment of reward perception based on visual self-expression: Coloring, doodling, and free drawing. Arts Psychother. 2017 Sep 1;55:85–92. 
  11. Yeung M, Avila A, Bandong J, Ia H, Imam N, Wilcox K. The Health Benefits of Visual Art Activities in the Geriatric Population. Poster presented at the Campus Research Day Symposium. 2020 [cited 2024 Sep 16]; Available from: https://soar.usa.edu/casmspring2020.https://soar.usa.edu/casmspring2020/2
  12. Seyi-Gbangbayau P. The Therapeutic Benefits of Artistic Painting to Human Health. International Journal of Women in Technical Education and Employment [Internet]. 2022 Nov 10 [cited 2024 Sep 16];3(1):147–54. Available from: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ijowited/article/view/235898
  13. Adams-Price CE, Morse LW. Crafts as serious hobbies: Impact and benefits in later life. Craft Research [Internet]. 2018 Mar 1 [cited 2024 Sep 16];9(1):93–102. Available from: https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/crre.9.1.93_1;jsessionid=kFkPeOg-GVVk6LE8hL5uSJS8UndFeM4kYsBXDgij.intellive-10-240-16-166

 

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Cecila Tsai

HBSc Physiology and Psychology, University of Toronto ‘24, Operations and Human Resources, Operations and Human Resources ​

A deep commitment to community service has shaped Cecilia’s journey, starting at the age of nine, when she began volunteering at a local soup kitchen and senior home in Vancouver. Her first major initiative, Baked With Love, united elementary and high school students who shared a love for baking and used their passion to serve others by making baked goods for homeless individuals and refugee families. This experience illuminated the transformative power of integrating hobbies into volunteering, turning it into a joyful and deeply rewarding activity while helping volunteers grow in compassion, teamwork, leadership, communication, and empathy.

With her grandparents living abroad, Cecilia became acutely aware of the loneliness, isolation, and sense of loss many older adults experience. Her grandfather’s feelings of loneliness and being a burden deeply touched her and fueled her determination to address these issues.

Although she did not have significant experience with art at the time, Cecilia combined her background in leading hobby-driven volunteer initiatives with her commitment to alleviating social isolation among older adults to co-found the EmpowART Foundation. She is honored to help older adults feel part of their community, discover new skills, gain emotional and mental support, and provide a platform for youth to share their talents, build intergenerational connections, and uplift neglected members of society. Cecilia aspires to expand this initiative, reaching more seniors and inspiring a new generation of compassionate changemakers.

Prabaarja Bedi

ICUBE Startup Advisor and Entrepreneur

Prabaarja Bedi is a trailblazer in the field of sustainable and ethical fashion and social entrepreneurship. As the co-founder and chief impact officer of UNfabricated, she is on a mission to tackle the environmental impact caused by fashion pollution and empower women in developing countries who come from marginalized communities through meaningful employment.

With over nine years of global experience spanning India, the United States, and Canada and as a two-time entrepreneur, Prabaarja brings a wealth of expertise in entrepreneurship, marketing and startup advising. Her journey has taken her from collaborating with Fortune 500 companies to fostering startups in their infancy, advocating for purpose-driven initiatives every step of the way.

Prabaarja is a passionate advocate for change. She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and insights to inspire personal growth and societal impact. With her skills as a motivational speaker, she weaves together narratives of resilience, innovation, and social responsibility to inspire audiences everywhere.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Prabaarja has a passion for exploring  different cultures through their food and enjoys going on leisurely hikes in nature. 

In addition, she loves reading historical and women’s fiction because she appreciates diverse narratives and believes in the power of storytelling to inspire.

Dr. Kenneth Yip

Co-founder and Board Member 

Dr. Yip is a professor at the University of Toronto, researcher at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, and co-founder of a biotech startup. He is a proud co-founder and supporter of the EmpowART Foundation. For more information about Dr. Yip, please see kennethwyip.com.

“One of my goals as a professor is to help facilitate the next generation in their efforts to positively impact the community. I believe that the arts can utilize individual and shared creativity to make meaningful connections and significant contributions to wellness and an enriched life.”

Denitsa Iankova

HBSc Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Toronto ‘24

Currently BSc Nursing Candidate, University of Toronto ‘26

Marketing and Media

As a lifelong artist, passionate about both digital and traditional media, Denitsa has always been inspired by the freedom art offers for self-expression and its unique ability to connect people of all ages. Her passion for this connection led her to co-found the EmpowART Foundation as a student at the University of Toronto, driven by her belief in the transformative power of art. Having witnessed firsthand the unifying potential of art through her leadership in a high school art club and the growing incidence of older adult isolation through her work as a community centre Pool in Charge, Denitsa strives to create environments where individuals of all backgrounds have an opportunity to express their voice, and feel valued and connected.

Niha Burugapalli

HBSc Global Health and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies,
University of Toronto ‘24

Currently Master in Management Candidate at Kellogg,
Northwestern University ‘26

Partnerships and Finances

Growing up in a multi-generational household, Niha cherished the wisdom and richness her grandparents added to her life. This inspired her to challenge the stigma and neglect often faced by older adults. Driven to create a more positive narrative, she envisioned fostering intergenerational connection through shared experiences. Combining this vision with her love for art, Niha developed the hobby-based volunteering approach that became the cornerstone of EmpowART’s philosophy. EmpowART blends creativity with community, using art as a powerful medium for social connection. Niha is thrilled by how this approach not only strengthens relationships across generations but also offers youth enjoyable service opportunities that nurture both personal growth and professional skills. She feels honored to have painted alongside people from all walks of life from war veterans to terminally ill patients to proud grandparents, learning their enriching life stories. Niha hopes to keep empowering students to integrate their unique interests and talents to make meaningful and lasting impacts on their communities.