In November 2025, four United Way Centraide supported delegates travelled to Munich for the One Young World Summit. As the world’s largest gathering of young leaders. The event brought together more than 2,000 participants from over 190 countries to accelerate global social impact by connecting young leaders with each other and with worldwide experts.
Our delegates from Canada were Brooke Ferrara, Community Investment Specialist from United Way Waterloo Region Communities; Taylor Bottle, a Youth Elder and Advocate with Miskanawah in Calgary, Alberta; Zaki Chowdhury, IT Security Specialist with United Way Greater Toronto; and Wissal Benali, most recently Solutions Consultant, Business Technology Solutions with United Way Centraide Canada.
Using our collective voice to tackle complex social issues
“Seeing people my age creating change reminded me that no effort is too small.”
– Brooke Ferrara, Community Investment Specialist.
Brooke was inspired by open dialogue that embraced challenging topics and reinforced the value of working together to create meaningful change.
She linked her experience to United Way Centraide’s efforts to counter misinformation and using tools like poverty simulations that demonstrate the stark choices faced by people living on low incomes. Her biggest takeaways were human connection and using our voice for collective action.
Community leadership grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing
“Advocacy isn’t about being the loudest voice — it’s about being the most authentic one.”
– Taylor Bottle, Youth Elder and Advocate.
Taylor emphasized that long-term change requires trust and collective decision-making, principles deeply rooted in Indigenous ways of working.
She shared that the Summit provided a sense of global community in sitting with Indigenous leaders from around the world, providing a space for those authentic voices to come forward, together.
Bold ideas to bridge the digital literacy gap
“Digital literacy is as important as financial literacy — and our communities can’t be left behind.”
– Zaki Chowdhury, IT Security Specialist.
Inspired by the experience, Zak helped launch Cyber Canada, an initiative focused on giving people the foundations they need to learn about AI and cybersecurity. For Zak, leadership means equipping communities with the technical skills and knowledge they need to work, live, and thrive.
He encourages deeper cross-sector collaboration, experimentation, and skill building to turn into action. He hopes to continue fostering opportunities for shared learning around AI and cybersecurity and sees the United Way Centraide Movement as a reliable technology ready to bridge digital gaps in communities across Canada.
Leadership through visibility and collaboration
“Being seen and valued gave me the courage to bring bold ideas home.”
– Wissal Benali, Solutions Consultant, Business Technology Solutions.
Wissal emphasized the power of visibility—how being heard and supported strengthens young leaders’ ability to spark change locally.
Wissal drew her insights from the spirit of the Summit: equipping young leaders with practical tools, expertise, and confidence. She drew inspiration from the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, being uplifted through the sense of community, and feeling valued as a leader of tomorrow.
Moving forward together
Across four perspectives and experiences, shared themes emerged: honest dialogue, space for Indigenous ways of knowing, investment in solutions for the future, and elevating the voices of future leaders.
“Our young leaders show how courage, collaboration, and authentic dialogue can drive real community change,” said Dan Clement, CEO of United Way Centraide Canada.
The resounding message is clear: start with what moves you, lead with authenticity, and stay connected. As a Movement grounded in local impact and collective action, United Way Centraide has both responsibility and the opportunity to turn these reflections into meaningful change.
