York University student Nebiyou Timotewos – once a newcomer to Canada who spent months in a homeless shelter – is now the country’s sole representative on the Youth Impact Council, where he helps guide and scale youth-led solutions to global challenges.
Drawing from lived experience shaped by conflict, displacement and homelessness, he is working to drive meaningful change and elevate youth leadership.
A global accelerator for youth-led initiatives, the Youth Impact Council brings leaders aged 18 to 35 together to advance projects on climate change, social justice and innovation. Through resources and facilitation, the council supports and scales the ideas of emerging changemakers.
In his role, Timotewos can propose new initiatives and evaluate those that are brought forward, contributing a thoughtful, community-centred perspective to global decision-making.
The council reviews and votes on projects, then accelerates selected initiatives by connecting them with partners, mentors and networks that support growth and real‑world impact. The initiative was conceived during New York Climate Week 2023 after youth advocate Anna-Grace Millward recognized that young people are often most affected by major decisions, yet rarely included in the rooms where those decisions are made.
“The council’s model prioritizes action over theory, supporting youth-driven solutions that demonstrate traction and potential for growth,” says Timotewos, who studies global politics, human rights and equity, and public administration and law at York's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “When young people are given meaningful responsibility, they rise to the moment. My goal is to ensure that more young people are not only welcomed into leadership spaces, but trusted to help shape their direction.”
Each quarter, members present their initiatives and vote to shortlist high-impact projects. From there, one initiative is selected to receive strategic guidance, media amplification and ecosystem support to help scale its real-world impact.
Born in Hawassa, Ethiopia, Timotewos’ path to global leadership began in circumstances marked by loss and instability. After the passing of two older brothers in infancy and his father’s resignation from local government, his family faced financial hardship. They later relocated to Yemen where, as a seven‑year‑old, he lived through the war. His home and school were bombed, yet his father worked with colleagues to keep the Ethiopian embassy operational, helping evacuate more than 6,000 people to safety. The family received Ethiopia’s National Hero Award in 2015 for their contribution.
Subsequent moves to Ireland and Canada brought new challenges. His family spent seven months in a homeless shelter where he experienced the stigma faced by many unhoused youth. These experiences later shaped his commitment to community service.
In 2024, Timotewos fulfilled a promise he made while living in the shelter by launching a hygiene‑kit drive for unhoused youth. This initiative evolved into Communities Care, a youth‑led organization that has supported more than 3,000 youth across Canada and over 300 in Ethiopia.
He founded Brothers4Brothers, a mentorship and mental health program that raises awareness of men’s mental health, particularly for Black and racialized youth. More than 75 participants have graduated from the program, with many returning as peer mentors, extending the cycle of support and leadership, says Timotewos.
He is also behind the creation of The Kindness Loop, a platform highlighting youth‑led kindness, resilience and community action.
Beyond his grassroots work, Timotewos serves as the youngest member of the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board. He is also one of 20 Black youth selected nationwide for the 1834 Fellowship and represents York University as a president’s ambassador, University senator, BE YU student success mentor lead, Department of Equity Studies representative, and leadership, equity and education ambassador.
This appointment reflects the growing presence of York University students in global leadership spaces, says Timotewos. “It speaks to the power of youth-led action in building systems that are more inclusive, more responsive, and better equipped to serve communities around the world.”