Meet Shiza Hirani Founder of Youth MentorNet Café

Shiza Hirani is an award-winning youth advocate and Founder of Youth MentorNet Café, recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation. Shiza founded Youth MentorNet Café at age 15 in 2020, and scaled it to reach 150,000+ young people across 15+ countries, mobilized 300+ volunteers, delivered 35+ free programs, and produced 150+ mental health educational resources. Her work has brought mental health advocacy into schools and communities through arts-based workshops, self-expression programming, and animated videos. In 2025, Shiza’s nonprofit received the prestigious RCE Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, and in the same year, she was named an Outstanding Youth Philanthropist on National Philanthropy Day by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Shiza holds national and international leadership roles, serving as National SDG 4 (Quality Education) Lead with the United Nations Association in Canada and as 1 of only 10 youth nationwide on the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations Youth Advisory Board. She has advised and consulted with 30+ organizations, including UNICEF Canada, Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, CAMH, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Kids Help Phone, World Bank Group, and the Canadian Accessibility Network. By age 19, Shiza had spoken on two UN education panels; by 20, she had taken youth advocacy to Parliament Hill, engaging Senators and MPs on youth priorities and voting legislation. She contributed to the COP 30 Manifesto on Students in Higher Education, presented to the UNFCCC Secretariat, and has spoken at the UN Canada SDSN Together | Ensemble Conference. As the youngest keynote speaker at DisruptHR, Shiza spoke before CEOs and business executives, calling for stronger workforce pipelines for Gen Z and greater mental health support to prevent burnout and help young people build sustainable careers. Selected as 1 of 150 youth from 7,600+ global applications for the 2026 Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program, an initiative of the World Bank Group, Shiza is expanding her advocacy to examine how climate change and eco-anxiety affect young people's mental health and wellbeing. Her leadership has been recognized with letters of commendation from the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney, the MP for Edmonton Strathcona, Senator Marilou McPhedran, and several local MLAs.

Sustainability: We integrate sustainable practices into our programs, materials, and operations.
Community & Giving: We support our communities through philanthropy, service, and meaningful engagement.
Innovation & Adaptability: We embrace new challenges with creativity, curiosity, and solution-focused thinking.
Respect & Gratitude: We honour Indigenous Elders, respect the land, and appreciate those who strengthen our community.
Kindness: We lead with compassion, empathy, and care in all that we do.

Values of Youth MentorNet Café

Commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Shiza's Youth MentorNet Café is committed to working towards creating a sustainable world along side the UN through the following Sustainable Development Goals

Through mentorship sessions, workshops, and trainings we aim to provide quality life education.

Through connecting youth with opportunities and mentors, we foster leadership, confidence, and meaningful civic engagement.

Through advocacy, policy work, and collaboration with governments and NGOs, we empower youth to drive inclusive, community-led change.

Through partnerships and cross collaboration, we build youth capacity to lead advocacy, policy change, and community-driven solutions.

UN Joint SDG Fund 'Mentorship in Action: Uplifting Youth Voices Through Youth MentorNet Café'.	RCE Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

Brew Your Future ☕: What We Offer at Youth MentorNet Café?

Mentorship: Personalized sessions where youth connect with mentors for guidance, goal-setting, and support tailored to their needs.
Soft Skill Development: Learn practical skills such as communication, leadership, digital literacy, and problem-solving.
Career Exploration: Discover different career paths and job opportunities.
Leadership Opportunities: Take part in initiatives and projects that help you develop confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Resources: Access helpful learning materials, mentorship guides, career tools, and curated resources designed to support youth development and success.

Supporters of Youth MentorNet Café

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Recognition at the Legislative Assembly

Recognition from Canadian Parliamentary and Government Leaders

Received the Henry Baker Scholar Award from Mayor Chad Bachynski at the Regina City Hall

Recognized by MLA Bhajan Brar from Regina Pasqua Constituency & MLA Noor Burki from Regina Coronation Park at the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

Received the RCE Education Award from Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan

Received the Top 30 Under 30 Award from the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Member of Parliament & Secretary of State for International Development

Story & Impact of Youth MentorNet Café

Shiza founded Youth MentorNet Café at age fifteen, driven by a deep commitment to expanding equitable access to education and dismantling systemic barriers faced by BIPOC youth communities.

As a young woman of colour, she witnessed the absence of representation and accessible mentorship in academic and leadership spaces. When the COVID-19 pandemic intensified these inequities, she transformed this challenge into an opportunity to build a youth-led platform rooted in mentorship, education, and empowerment.

Today, Youth MentorNet Café has reached 150,000+ youth across 15+ countries, providing culturally responsive mentorship and inclusive learning spaces. The initiative has been recognized by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund as a leading youth-driven sustainable practice and received the RCE Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Award, presented by the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

Through this platform, Shiza has developed 150+ open-access mentorship and e-learning resources, including the Language of Empowerment Toolkit, which simplifies complex ideas about identity, equity, and social justice into youth-friendly language. She also created the SDG Quest Coding Game Hub, an interactive platform that makes sustainability education accessible and engaging for young learners.

She has facilitated 30+ workshops on university readiness, financial literacy, and civic engagement across schools, community organizations, and professional settings. Her mentorship framework has supported the training of 1,500 Literacy Ambassadors who now lead book drives, literacy panels, and youth-serving initiatives within their communities.

At the heart of Shiza’s work is a deep commitment to building authentic connection. Through Youth MentorNet Café, Shiza fosters relationships grounded in trust, reciprocity, and cultural safety. Her leadership follows a community-based participatory approach where youth are not simply consulted but act as co-creators who identify priorities, shape solutions, and guide the direction of social impact initiatives.

Reconciliation also remains central to her work. Shiza collaborates closely with Indigenous knowledge keepers, Elders, youth leaders, educators, and community partners to ensure programs remain culturally grounded and accountable. One of her most transformative initiatives has been founding the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program, a culturally responsive and trauma-informed sub-initiative of Youth MentorNet Café. Through this program, she mentors Indigenous youth, supports land-based learning opportunities, and strengthens identity, belonging, and community-rooted leadership.

Shiza has also collaborated with Indigenous scholars and youth-serving organizations on a national photovoice project highlighting Indigenous resurgence and the importance of preserving cultural artifacts, stories, and teachings for the next seven generations. In recognition of this work, Shiza was invited to serve as the youngest workshop facilitator at the First Nations University of Canada during the Indigenous Self-Determination in Social Work Conference, where she contributed to national dialogue on Indigenous youth leadership and pathways toward reconciliation.

Beyond these initiatives, Shiza continues to share youth perspectives on global platforms. She has been featured twice as a speaker in Theirworld’s Understanding Inequalities in Education series, served as the youngest keynote speaker at DisruptHR YQR, and has presented at numerous academic and professional conferences at regional, national, and international levels.

Featured Resources @Youth MentorNet Café

FEATURED DIGITAL TOOLKITS @ Youth MentorNet Café

Testimonials

"Having a mentor who believed in me, changed everything. I now feel confident in myself."

-Mentee, Age 17

"The mentorship I received gave me the courage to speak up and lead in my school community."

-Mentee, Age 19

"Being part of this Café helped me see myself as more than just a student. I'm now a leader, helping others."

-Mentee, Age 16

"Shiza's mentorship gave me the courage to believe in myself. She turned my uncertainty into confidence."

-Mentee, 20

"Your story is still being written, and every challenge you face is a chance to add a new chapter of strength and resilience. Believe in yourself, and know that you have the power to shape your own destiny"

Shiza Hirani

Founder of Youth MentorNet Café