August 13th, 2025

Written by Haniya, a student at Preston High School

In 2024, the City of Kitchener launched the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, a program aimed at helping Kitchener youth ages 15 to 24 design, produce and govern urgent climate solutions in their cities.

Five Kitchener-based secondary schools were awarded $1,200 each to support their eco clubs student-led initiatives. Below is a summary of each schools’ projects using the microgrants.

Forest Heights Collegiate Institute

Forest Heights Collegiate Institute’s Eco Club built garden towers and an urban farm, as well as purchased bins for different recycling programs, such as markers/pens and batteries.

Grand River Collegiate Institute

Grand River Collegiate Institute’s Enviro-club utilized the funds to purchase materials that would be used for habitats for local pollinators, to collect rainwater for gardening and to expand the existing gardens at the school.

Huron Heights Secondary School

Huron Heights Secondary School’s Green Earth Club worked on an indoor garden, aiming to promote local food growth, improve air quality, and educate students about sustainable agriculture. The school has built greenhouses and the students have planted seeds for the garden.

Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School

Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School’s Green Industries students built a chicken run, which now houses six heritage breed chickens. The coop will support urban agriculture education.

Eastwood Collegiate Institute

Eastwood Collegiate Institute’s IMPACT club hosted the UN Sustainable Development Goals Expo. The event included students from high schools across the school board and invited multiple organizations to promote their initiatives. Read more about the ECI IMPACT club.

These projects lay the groundwork for future students to continue environment-focused projects. These initiatives are a positive example of WRDSB students making change in their school and broader community

#StudentVoice Series

This article is written by a WRDSB student and is part of the Student Agency and Voice program. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.

Categories: Husky News