The Tidbits of Change Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards, honoring three Canadian youths who partnered with a parent or mentor on meaningful projects. The foundation, which encourages collaboration between young people and their mentors, awarded bursaries ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to support the recipients' post-secondary education.
Amy Attalla of Fernie, B.C., received the 2025 Tidbits of Change Award for founding Sibshops Fernie, a non-profit organization that provides peer support to siblings of children with special needs. Inspired by her experience as a sibling of a younger sister with special needs, Attalla developed workshops where siblings can connect and share experiences. She leaned on the mentorship of her older sister Joy, as well as her mother's background in special education and her father's experience in camp leadership and business. "Amy's initiative has had a remarkable impact on her community," said Greg Scott, co-founder of the foundation.
Sho Kagawa Brooks, a student at Toronto Metropolitan University, received a Youth Inspiration Bursary Award presented by HEAD/Tyrolia for co-founding the Sea to Sky Student Short Film Festival. Brooks and his partners worked closely with a mentor from the Whistler Film Festival and their high school vice-principal to develop the festival, which has grown into a platform that empowers student filmmakers. "Sho saw an opportunity to create something meaningful, sought out mentorship to work with, and turned it into a platform that continues to inspire young storytellers," said Scott.
Kaelyn Smith of Sherwood Park, Alta., a student at Grant MacEwan University, received a Youth Inspiration Bursary Award presented by Kal Tire for her homelessness outreach work with her father. Smith partnered with her father to support people experiencing homelessness, volunteering with The Mustard Seed, PAC Mission, and Hope Mission. They plan to expand their efforts through a project focused on Skid Row in Los Angeles. "All three of these collaborative initiatives have made a meaningful impact in their communities," Scott said. "Their stories are inspirational, and it's wonderful to see how these projects have strengthened their relationships as well."
The foundation hopes these efforts will inspire others to pursue their own passion projects. Applications for the 2026 bursaries are now open until April 30, 2026. More information is available at tidbitsofchange.org.
