Infuse:  A micro-grants program and interactive learning platform for youth who are ready to spark real change.

Young people have bold ideas. They see the gaps, feel the needs, and imagine new futures for their communities. But too often, what they lack isn’t passion but rather the right support to turn ideas into action.

Infuse was built to change that.

Infuse is a gamified, strengths-based micro-grants learning experience where youth “unlock” funding by completing real-world tasks that build their leadership, planning, and problem-solving skills. It’s non-linear, customizable, and designed to meet each young person where they’re at.

Launching Summer 2025

How it Works

Through the distribution of microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, youth aged 15-30  are invited to turn their ideas into action.  Projects may range from classroom or school-based initiatives to peer-led workshops, creative arts events, mental health campaigns, food security solutions, or larger-scale efforts to strengthen community connection and wellbeing. There is no “one right way” to make an impact and the flexible structure of the grant tiers reflects that. Youth can apply for the amount that matches their scope, confidence, and capacity. This structure ensures that both first-time leaders and experienced changemakers feel welcome.

Youth begin by completing a simple questionnaire and/or a virtual conversation that helps us understand their learning style, strengths, and capacity. Based on this, they’re matched with a learning archetype and given a personalized roadmap of tasks tailored to their unique goals.

Each task builds a key skill like budgeting, storytelling, partnership-building, or impact planning and unlocks a portion of their grant. By the time they complete their roadmap, they’ve earned their full funding and built a toolkit they can use far beyond this project.

Eligibility

Project ideas must have 1 youth as the lead representative (there is no maximum number for the people involved in the project design and delivery) 

  • Youth are located in and designing for communities in rural, remote, northern Canada

  • Youth is defined as someone between the ages of 15-30 

  • The youth representative will be the one receiving and managing the funds 

  • Grant funds can be used for a variety of activities including purchasing materials/supplies, food or refreshments for events, paying honorariums for elders or workshop facilitators, but cannot be used in the following ways: 

    • To pay wages (including wages for anyone involved in the design and delivery of the grant project) 

    • For fundraising/sponsorship or financial assistance

    • Supporting activities related to partisan politics (such as supporting candidates or a political party)

What Makes Infuse Different?

Gamified learning keeps youth engaged with rewards, milestones, and choices

  • Personalized Mentorship through conversational AI guides, mentor check-ins, and peer cohorts keep them supported

  • Scaffolded, task-based learning makes each step doable and empowering

  • Community connection is woven in as youth can connect, team up, and collaborate across regions

Real-world outcomes emerge as youth implement projects designed for and by their communities

A Platform and a Movement 

Infuse shifts the way youth grants are delivered. It replaces inaccessible applications with a guided, creative process. It transforms “one-time funding” into a growth journey. And it replaces isolation with momentum, confidence, and meaningful connection.

At SEW, we believe that when youth are trusted with real responsibility, and given the tools to grow through it, they show up in powerful ways.


By completing real-world tasks tied to leadership and community-building, they infuse their projects, and themselves, with the skills, confidence, and support to make lasting change.

The Infuse Program is set to launch in Fall 2025. Email the Project Manager at niroja@smalleconomyworks.com for more information. 

This Program is funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.