Across U-Can Youth Awards 2026

"Honouring every journey, bridging the gaps to infinite possibilities for East Asian youth."

We Believe You Can!

Bridge the Gaps

Our Strategic Mission

Talent is universal — access is not.
We exist to bridge that gap by providing the networks, support, and opportunities needed to move forward.

So that your potential is not limited by invisible barriers —
but unlocked by what you can become.

Have you gone through real challenges, experienced meaningful change, or discovered something important about yourself?

The Across U-Can Youth Awards celebrates journeys like yours — not just achievements, but transformation.

What You’ll Experience

🎬 Your Story, Professionally Told
A 3-minute video that captures your journey — for your portfolio, applications, and personal brand.

🎤 Step onto a Real Stage
Be recognized at Across Fundraising Gala 2026 and share your story live.

💼 Open Doors for Your Future
Build your resume and unlock meaningful opportunities through real experiences.

🤝 Access to People Who Can Help You Grow
Connect with mentors and professionals across different fields.

💡 Make Sense of Your Journey
Turn your experience into clarity, confidence, and direction.

💰 Support for Your Next Chapter
Receive support to take your next step forward.

Your story matters. Your journey counts.

Apply now and let your story inspire others.

Three Categories of
Across U-Can Youth Awards

  • Across U-Can GROW Award
  • Across U-Can BUILD Award
  • Across U-Can BRIDGE Award

Application Deadline:

July 1, 2026 (Monday) at 23:59 (EST)

(Applicant Eligibility: aged 16-35 of East Asian background / heritage, currently residing/living in Canada)

What Awardees Receive?

Each awardee is not only recognized, but supported in their next step forward:

  • 🎖️ Recognition That Represents Your Journey
    Receive a formal certificate and award plaque — honouring not just what you’ve done, but who you’ve become.
  • 🤝 Access to Mentors & Meaningful Connections
    Connect with mentors, peers, and community leaders who can guide, support, and open doors for you.
  • 🎬 A Story You Can Carry Forward
    Be featured through a professionally captured story — something you can use for your portfolio, applications, and future opportunities.
  • 💡 Personal Growth Through Reflection
    Go through a meaningful process that helps you better understand your journey and grow from it.
  • 💰 Support for Your Next Chapter
    Includes a $500 award grant to support your continued growth and next steps.

Awards Criteria

Across U-Can GROW Award
燃動青年生命蛻變奬

This award is for one who has overcome a life challenge, demonstrated significant personal growth, and made an impact on others.
候選人曾克服生活挑戰,展現了顯著的個人成長,並對他人產生了正面影響。

Application Guidelines 申請指引

  1. What challenges have you faced?
    你遇到了哪些挑戰?
  2. What motivated you to make the change?
    是甚麼激勵你做出改變?
  3. While you were making those changes, what difficulties did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
    你在改變過程中,遇到甚麼困難和如何克服它們?
  4. How has this change demonstrated your personal growth and made an impact on others?
    這個改變如何展現你的個人成長及影響他人?

Across U-Can BUILD Award
燃動青年社區匠心奬

This award is for one who has made a meaningful, transformative impact on the community.
候選人曾在社區作出貢獻,並產生有意義且深遠的影響。

Application Guidelines 申請指引

  1. What issue(s) did you identify in the community that you sought to address?
    你意識到社區面臨哪些矛盾或問題,驅使你作一些回應?
  2. What motivated you to address the issue(s)?
    是甚麼動力激勵你去作出回應?
  3. When addressing those issues(s), what challenges did you have to overcome and how did you overcome those challenges?
    你在行動和過程中,遇到甚麼困難和如何克服它們?
  4. How has this change impacted the community and/or yourself?
    (If possible, provide a brief testimonial of the impact you have had on the community concerned. This can be written, audio, or video.)
    這種改變如何影響了社區和/或你自己?
    (可提供一些見證,說明你在社區產生的影響,可以是簡短描述文字、音頻或短片形式均可。)

Across U-Can BRIDGE Award
燃動青年文化連繫奬

This award is for one who has undergone a journey in the understanding of their cultural identities, leading to cultural contributions to the community.
候選人曾對自己文化身份疑惑、瞭解和認同,從而為社會作出文化連繫的貢獻。

Application Guidelines 申請指引

  1. How have you struggled with your cultural identities?
    你如何在文化認同方面經歷矛盾與困難?
  2. What made you realized the need or motivated you to understand and appreciate your own cultural roots and identities?
    是甚麼使你意識到有必要去理解和珍視自己的文化根源和身份?
  3. Describe your journey in searching for your roots, reclaiming your cultural identities and integrating/reconciling the two distinct eastern and western cultures.
    描述你在尋根、重新認識自己的文化身份,以及整合/調和東西方兩種文化的旅程。
  4. Throughout your journey, what and how have you contributed to the bridging of cultural identities in your community?
    在這個旅程中, 你如何連繫不同的文化, 並對社區作出什麼貢獻?

Note: The applicant can apply for more than one award.

Application Support

We know it’s not always easy to put your story into words — you don’t have to do it alone.

🧠 Guided Application Support

Receive personalized guidance to help you reflect on your journey and express your story with clarity.

💡 Shape a Strong & Meaningful Story

We’ll help you identify key moments, highlight your growth, and communicate what truly matters.

⚡ Simple and Flexible

Support is available through short, focused sessions — designed to be efficient and easy to fit into your schedule.

✨ Start with your draft — we’ll help you bring it to life.

📩 Reserve Your Spot in ONE CLICK

Interested in joining an Application Support session? Click the button below to provide your information, our team will follow up with available time slots.

Applicant Eligibility

By the date of application deadline – July 1, 2026, the applicant is:

  • Youth aged 16-35 of East Asian background / heritage
  • currently residing/living in Canada

Applications are valid only for the year in which they are submitted.

Each award category has a unique set of criteria, please select the award heading and review the list of criteria for that award.

Application Procedures

How to Apply or Nominate?

Choose one of the following:

  1. Apply Online
    Complete the Online Application Form and submit your story in one format:
    – Written submission,
    – Audio submission, or
    – Video submission.
  2. Nominate Someone
    Know a young person whose story deserves to be seen? Submit a Nomination and we will follow up with them directly.

Awards Selection

An Award Selection Committee will review applications and select recipients for each award category. Award recipients will be publicized and the awards presentation will be taken place at the Across U-hub annual Fundraising and Youth Awards Celebration Gala in November 2026 (tentatively).

This award was created with a specific purpose in mind — to recognize and support young people whose growth and resilience are often overlooked. Want to understand the thinking behind this award?