About Skillcity Institute.
Founded in 2015, Skillcity Institute is a social impact enterprise dedicated to expanding equitable pathways to education, skills, and economic opportunity. The organization was established to address systemic barriers that prevent many youth, newcomers, and underserved communities from accessing high-value career pathways, particularly in rapidly evolving sectors such as STEM, technology, and the future workforce.
Since its inception, Skillcity has developed innovative programs that combine career literacy, experiential learning, STEM talent development, and workforce readiness training. Through partnerships with schools, community organizations, employers, and public institutions, Skillcity delivers hands-on learning experiences that help participants build durable skills, explore career pathways, and connect with emerging industries.
Over the years, Skillcity has engaged thousands of youth and adults through initiatives including career exploration programs, entrepreneurship and innovation labs, STEM learning environments, mentorship pathways, and work-integrated learning opportunities. These initiatives are designed to bridge the gap between education and employment while empowering individuals to achieve long-term economic mobility.
Our Mission
Skillcity Institute creates inclusive pathways to prosperity for youth and individuals from equity-deserving communities through durable skills development, STEM education, and careers pathways that enable upward economic mobility. By strengthening support systems, connections, and access to opportunity, we help individuals and communities thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
Our Vision
A world where every individual regardless of background, identity, or ability has access to the skills, support, and opportunities to participate progressively in a dynamic economic
Our Priorities
Our goal is to empower children, youth, and adults from underrepresented and under-resourced communities in Canada, through initiatives that enhance their socioeconomic development and well-being.
Who We Serve
We work with young people
Working with underserved young adults helps them gain essential skills, experience, confidence, and resilience to successfully move into higher education, employment, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
We work with Businesses
We work with employers and their employees to inspire, and motivate. Opening doors for young adults, assisting businesses in developing and running corporate social responsibility programs, brokering work experience, employee volunteer programs, and facilitating workplace visits.
We work with Schools
Working with underserved young adults helps them gain essential skills, experience, confidence, and resilience to successfully move into higher education, employment, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Our Programs
Here’s how Skillcity is empowering people of all ages through our interactive, personal, and engaging programs
STEMCEL Talent Incubator
At STEMCEL, learning doesn’t feel like school. It’s fun, digital, and adventurous. It’s real-life experiences powered by Virtual Reality. It’s a space where Explorers meet Adventurers, Navigators, and Heroes, using the superpowers of STEM to build a world of unlimited possibilities.
STEM Heroes+ Youth After-School
STEM Heroes+ connects young people (8 to 18 years) with diverse professionals from various industries who guide them to discover and explore new paths. Mentors work with youth to explore career pathways they may not have otherwise been exposed to or thought attainable.
​​
STEMCEL puts the power in participants' hands, enabling them to visualize their future selves. Through career scenarios, experimentation, and virtual experiences, participants discover their skills and better understand what careers they may find success in.
Gain first-hand experience through knowledge and problem-solving while developing self-awareness and personal growth. Collaborate with peers and mentors, and work with various organizations and professionals.
Digital Badges, Rewards, and Recognition.
Digital Certificates and Micro-credentials.
Career & Technology Studies school credits
Peer-to-peer mentoring for school credits​
STEM Youth After-school Programs
An after-school program that sparks curiosity, builds skills, and nurtures the next generation of leaders.
Through weekly interactive sessions, youth dive into exciting STEM themes, hands-on experiments, coding, robotics, and maker challenges. The program promotes academic enrichment, teamwork, and personal growth in a fun and supportive environment.​
Get Involved
We rely on employee volunteers to inspire and motivate the next generation. Our corporate volunteering opportunities in London schools and colleges help businesses to connect with and support local young people.
​
We welcome individual professionals or groups of employees from a wide range of industries. You don’t need experience of working with young people, just plenty of enthusiasm! We will provide briefings beforehand and support you on the day.
What People Say?
Excerpts from testimonials gathered from Skillcity’s programs.
Rachel M.
“This program helped me to build a great list of resources. It was very well planned and well worth the time investment. I definitely feel more prepared and ready to tackle my next steps in my business venture. Also having these contacts is a great feeling, as it makes me feel like I have a support network already in place and a whole bunch of resources I can use to my benefit!”
Femi A
“Before this session, I really hadn’t thought about my personal qualities, abilities and talents. Actually, I thought I had no talents at all, but now I see that I have some creative talents. I can now create video game stories with online tools, and even co-create with my friends, even if we can’t meet up because of COVID-19. We can actually create video game characters and sell to big companies and make some money. This stuff is really cool.”
.jpeg)
Gabby A.
“I was really getting bored and frustrated with the rules: ‘don’t go there’, ‘social distancing’, ‘you can’t go out with your friends’… so many rules. Now, I have something to do with my friends online, we can create cool fun stuff online, and not have to worry about wearing masks or social distancing. That’s what I really like about this Skillcity program.”
