Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Journey
Dream It · Plan It · Build It (DPB) is our flagship program for youth ages 14–25 — especially BIPOC and marginalized youth ready to build real-world skills, confidence, and community.
Our SIYS Programs
Youth Entrepreneurship Skill-Building
Struggle Is Your Success (SIYS) is an innovative Black-led nonprofit that delivers entrepreneurial mindset development programs for youth aged 14–25. Through engaging, activity-based experiences, DPB empowers participants to:
Discover and develop their potential
Set meaningful goals
Build essential problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills
SIYS fosters a mindset of possibility, strengthens self-confidence, and creates a sense of belonging among peers who share similar challenges.
By enhancing social and emotional competencies, youth are prepared to unlock their full potential and thrive as resilient entrepreneurs.
Program Overview:
Dream It · Plan It · Build It
Duration: 5 weeks
Frequency: Choose between a once-a-week session or a five-day program with one-hour classes each day. Both program formats conclude with an Entrepreneurial Graduation Ceremony.
Audience: Youth aged 14–25, committed to community engagement, experiential learning, and building skills for future employment, education, and community impact
DPB provides participants with stable, supportive relationships through mentorship from professionals in business, corrections, and community service. The program equips youth with entrepreneurial training and life skills that positively influence their development and future pathways.
Program Overview:
SIYS: Mental Health & Restorative Justice Programs
At Struggle Is Your Success (SIYS), we believe that healing, accountability, and opportunity must work together. Our Mental Health and Restorative Justice programs are designed to empower youth to transform pain into purpose through mentorship, self-awareness, and skill development.
In partnership with Peer Mediation and Skills Training (PMAST) and the Calgary Young Offender Centre (CYOC), SIYS delivers innovative, trauma-informed programming that helps youth build confidence, emotional intelligence, and leadership. Together, we create safe and supportive spaces where young people can reflect, heal, and rebuild their sense of belonging.
Our restorative approach focuses on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and helping youth re-enter their communities with renewed hope and purpose. Through peer mediation, mentorship circles, and mental health workshops, participants learn that struggle is not a setback—it’s the foundation of their success.
Because at SIYS, we know that every story of healing strengthens the community and shapes a brighter, more just future.
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Encouragement & Motivation – Mentors inspire youth to recognize their potential, stay motivated, and pursue their dreams.
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Long-Term Impact – Mentorship benefits extend into adulthood, equipping youth to make better life choices and contribute positively to society.
Core Benefits
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Guidance & Support – Mentors help youth navigate school, relationships, and career challenges, providing role models and positive guidance often missing in their immediate environment.
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Academic & Career Success – Mentored youth show improved school attendance, stronger academic performance, and greater career ambitions
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Social & Emotional Growth – Mentorship boosts resilience, self-confidence, and communication skills, creating a safe space to discuss personal challenges.
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Reduced Risk of Negative Behaviors – DPB lowers engagement in risky behaviors, helping youth set positive goals and make constructive choices.
Entrepreneurial Skills & Self-Sufficiency
DPB uniquely incorporates entrepreneurial training, helping youth become self-reliant and explore new career pathways:
Creative Thinking & Problem-Solving
Encouraging innovative solutions to real-world challenges
Financial
Literacy
Budgeting, financial basics, and responsible money management
Confidence &
Resilience
Managing small projects helps youth handle setbacks and stay adaptable
Networking & Alternative Pathways
Access to supportive mentors and community connections
Community
Leadership
Empowered youth can become role models and create cycles of mentorship and positive change
Through this program, youth gain mentorship, life skills, and entrepreneurial training, empowering them to build successful, fulfilling futures.
Program Goals
At SIYS, our mission and vision for youth focus on three core areas:
Build agency and confidence, influence peers, and take on community-based projects
Youth learn to envision a business idea (creativity and innovation), plan its creation (goal-setting and problem-solving), and bring it to life (actionable project planning). They conclude the program by presenting their ideas publicly, honing essential communication skills.
Who This Program Is For
Youth who are:
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Ages 14–25
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Committed to participating in experiential learning and community-based projects
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Interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, and building essential life skills
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Especially from BIPOC and marginalized communities, but open to all youth
Measure of Success
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
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Confidently present ideas or projects publicly
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Apply goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving skills
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Navigate personal and academic challenges with resilience
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Engage meaningfully in peer and community networks
Partner Recognition: Thank You to Our Program Supporters
We couldn’t do it without you.
Our programs are made possible through the generosity and collaboration of community organizations, funders, and corporate partners who share our commitment to empowering BIPOC and marginalized youth.
Peer Mediation And Skills Training (PMAST) is a Calgary-based charity dedicated to empowering youth and communities with the tools to manage conflict peacefully. Since 1999, PMAST has worked with schools and communities to foster safety, respect, and collaboration, providing programs that build emotional well-being and equip young people to handle conflict, bullying, and violence.
Momentum is a Calgary-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing poverty through a holistic approach that combines financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and skills training. By empowering individuals with the tools to manage money, start businesses, and build careers, Momentum fosters economic inclusion and community resilience. Their programs, such as Matched Savings and Self-Employment, align closely with SIYS’s mission to equip youth with the skills and confidence to thrive.
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