Our Mission

Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa enables children and youth to act on their ideas and create a better Ottawa.

Our Philosophy

Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa (CAYFO) is an Ottawa based charity dedicated to the promotion and advancement of children and youth in our community.

CAYFO strives to engage, inspire, support, and celebrate children and young people within the City of Ottawa. We do this in partnership with young people and in collaboration with non-profit organizations, community-based groups, corporations, and government.

We believe that our community benefits when young people are able to participate to the fullest and we provide the space and platform for children and youth to realize their ideas and speak their minds.

CAYFO creates opportunities for children and youth to participate and engage in the communities to which they belong. We create opportunities for youth to shine and we celebrate their achievements. We create an environment that allows youth to demonstrate their talents, make meaningful contributions, and act on their ideas.

Our Approach

• For youth by youth
• Inclusive of different levels of participation, and of diverse populations, abilities, ages and styles
• Grassroots
• Responsive
• Propel the youth voice into the community
• Create and provide the spaces and opportunities for youth to come together which are flexible and adaptable to their needs
• Allow young people to demonstrate what they have to contribute
• Allow for the meaningful involvement of youth through our board of directors, employment opportunities, placements and volunteer experiences
• Professional development for those working in the child and youth field
• Innovative programs

CAYFO seeks to…

Because they have something to contribute now
Because we all benefit from their knowledge, skills, perspectives and ideas
Because they are not engaged in other venues
Because they are equal

To show everyone what is possible when children and youth are empowered
To be agents of positive social change
So that young people can inspire the community to listen to their voice and address their concerns

By allowing young people to learn by doing
By providing a space and platform for young people to realize their ideas and follow their ideas through into action
By highlighting how children and youth are already contributing and taking action

To address identified needs within the community
For the collective good of the entire community
By providing those in the child and youth field with support and resources
By providing resources, information, tools and opportunities to enable and empower young people
Through bursaries, employment opportunities, placements, and volunteer experiences
By providing young people with the opportunities to learn new skills and gain new knowledge

By recognizing the positive contributions of young people and the positive contributions of community members who strive to create a more child and youth friendly Ottawa
By encouraging the further participation of young people in the community
By highlighting positive young role models to inspire others
To change negative opinions of young people

To ensure youth needs are met
Because we believe in a holistic approach where we are one piece of a larger system that addresses the issues facing children and youth
To provide opportunities for intergenerational partnerships between young people and adults
To generate better ideas, and to be more efficient and more effective