Our Impact
Our Impact
By The Numbers
- 300+ people globally have participated in, been inspired by, and catalyzed change through Mindful Social Innovation (MSI) programs and trainings
- 25+ innovation processes and products designed in collaboration with partners across 10+ sectors
- 10,000+ people globally have improved their social and emotional capacities, resilience, and well-being through Social & Emotional Learning and Mindfulness programs and trainings
- 1st global movement for MSI through the Global Mental Health Innovation Imaginarium
Our Global Projects
2024 Highlights
- Worldwide: This year, our Mindfulness Ambassador Facilitator Program welcomed participants from across Ontario, including Ottawa, Penetanguishene, and York Region, as well as from Sherbrooke, Quebec; Cancun, Mexico; and New York, USA. This diverse group reflects the growing global interest in mindfulness and its transformative impact. We were also delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with York Regional Police Leaders from YRP and Fire Services participated in our program this year, building on several years of collaboration that underscores the importance of mindfulness in fostering resilience and leadership within our community services.
- South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the CongoIn South Kivu, where youth face challenges like armed group recruitment, economic hardship, and community disruptions, the "Catalyzing Youth As Mindful Social Innovators for Mental Well-being" program for war-affected students aimed to improve mental and psychosocial wellbeing of youth. By integrating Psychosocial Support (PSS) with Social Innovation tools and techniques in the curriculum, the program built a resilient, human-centered space for students to co-design mental health innovations within their schools and communities. The initiative was launched at the Kabisi School in South Kivu and was a collaborative pilot project funded by UK Research & Innovation and driven by The Global MINDS Collective (Canada), Hope & Health Vision Inc. (DRC), and Royal Holloway University of London (UK).
- London-Middlesex, Canada: In collaboration with MINDS London, the very first Collective System Innovation (CSI) event came to life. Bringing together diverse voices to address the challenges of mental health system navigation and service coordination. Guided by the principles of Mindful Social Innovation, participants co-created solutions that integrate lived experiences and professional expertise. Through collaborative problem-solving, the event generated innovative prototypes, including a youth-focused resource hub, a wellness app, and reconciliation training for Indigenous care practices. By fostering mindfulness and human-centered design, the initiative aims to transform mental health care into a more accessible, coordinated, and inclusive system for the community.
- Chalatenango, El Salvador: In postwar El Salvador, the scars of the Salvadoran Civil War (1980–1992) and recent gang crackdowns (2022) have left profound mental and emotional impacts on communities, particularly the youth. The "Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador" initiative (elsalvadormemory.org) is a collaborative international effort of survivors, scholars, artists, mental health professionals, and civil society organizations to document the history of the civil war, prevent future violence, and promote healing and resilience. The "Mental Health and Healing" stream of this project, co-led by the Global MINDS Collective and other organizations, emphasizes fostering mental wellbeing, reconciliation, and youth leadership in regions like Chalatenango. Activities include consulting the community, building capacity through Mindful Social Innovation (MSI) training for research staff, facilitators and community members, as well as preparing for the launch of an MSI Lab in Chalatenango for community-led mental health innovations, meaningful discussions and strengthened community bonds.
- London-Middlesex, Canada: In collaboration with the Children’s Environmental Health Clinic (ChEHC) we co-designed and co-facilitated, "Mapping the Path Forward: An Imaginarium to Explore Environment & Child and Youth Health." It brought together a diverse group of voices, including youth, researchers, doctors, environmentalists, and community leaders, to address the intersection of environment and child and youth health. Through collaborative mapping, interactive discussions, and a focus on lived experiences, participants explored community concerns, shared innovative ideas, and identified pathways to scale their impact. This imaginative, participatory approach fostered deeper connections across sectors, highlighted the value of diverse perspectives, and inspired actionable strategies to build a more supportive and impactful community for child and youth environmental health.
- London, Ontario and Oneida Nation of the Thames: Our community partnership with Sweet Labour Art Movement reflects a reciprocal exchange of learning and creativity. Members of their group engaged in our Mindfulness Ambassador Program, exploring mindfulness practices that foster connection and presence, while we will join their upcoming residency at the National Ballet Company Studios in Toronto. We will learn from their Somatic Resilience Toolkit: Mindful Movement Practices, integrating somatic and improvisational techniques with mindfulness. This collaboration deepens our shared exploration of how movement and care can build resilience, enrich connections, and inspire new ways of being.
Spotlight On:
"A Taste of Kenya"
The Taste of Kenya: A Collection of Recipes and Stories of Recovery from Mental Illness is Kenya’s first cookbook which shares recipes and stories of recovery from mental illness. As an innovative advocacy tool to reduce stigma, it was co-created in 2019 by people experiencing mental illness in Kenya and graduate students at Western University, Canada.
Your support of the cookbook contributes to a fund specifically for individuals with mental illness in Kenya to pursue social entrepreneurial opportunities.
What People Are Saying
... empowered me to feel like I could contribute to creating innovative solutions to complex challenges… the program has directly created new and exciting opportunities for me in my career.
- Fellowship Program Participant
I gained a genuine sense of being part of something. It is exceedingly rare to participate in a program and leave instilled with the message "we are always here for you," and to believe it.
- Fellowship Program Participant
I thoroughly enjoyed taking this graduate course as it challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and think creatively. Through collaborating with my team, I learned the importance of diverse perspectives in solving complex challenges.
- Graduate student