About GELP
The GELP Foundation
The GELP Foundation is a nonprofit society registered federally in Canada and the Province of British Columbia. We serve as the formal nonprofit home for GELP in Canada, anchoring our mission in long-term, community-rooted programming.
From Global Roots to Local Impact
As our initiative grew, so did the recognition that these values — identity, empathy, reflection, creativity, and cross-cultural understanding — were urgently needed right here at home.
Originally launched in 2020 as a global youth initiative focused on creative skill-building, inclusive leadership, and the transformative power of cultural storytelling, GELP has now reached over 35,000 youth across 25 countries through leadership summits, arts-based residencies, and cross-cultural learning experiences.
We don't simply deliver content. We co-create meaningful, expressive experiences through art, dialogue, and celebration — supporting youth as they connect to themselves, to one another, and to the communities they serve.
Our Mission
At the GELP Foundation, we design programs that cultivate communication, collaboration, and cultural reflection, using the arts as a bridge for learning and connection. Through initiatives such as storytelling circles, newcomer-led mural projects, spoken word showcases, and digital reflection platforms, we create opportunities for youth to explore who they are, where they come from, and how they can lead with purpose.
Every program — whether a Campus Chapter, Cultural Residency, Art-Integrated Leadership Camp, or the Global Virtual Summit — is rooted in creative practice, personal growth, and public engagement. Together, these initiatives empower young people to build leadership skills, strengthen their cultural identity, and connect meaningfully with their communities.
Our Programs
The GELP Foundation offers a range of programs designed to be free, inclusive, and community-centered, with a focus on removing barriers for Indigenous, racialized, and newcomer youth.
Through Campus Chapters, we engage students at post-secondary institutions across British Columbia in leadership activities and cultural exploration. Our Cultural Residencies partner with Indigenous Friendship Centres, libraries, and cultural organizations to deliver community-led art initiatives that celebrate identity and storytelling.
The Art-Integrated Leadership Camps offer immersive experiences where youth develop leadership skills through creative learning and self-expression. We also host the Global Virtual Summit, connecting young leaders around the world through online workshops focused on storytelling, leadership, and cultural exchange. Finally, through GELP Skool, our digital storytelling platform, youth can share their art, reflections, and leadership journeys with a wider audience, building a community grounded in creativity and connection.
Board of Directors
The Foundation is led by a board of community leaders, educators, and cultural elders who steward GELP's mission in Canada.
Brock Dykeman
Chair
Nneka Otogbolu
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Elder Wilson Bearhead
Director & Elder at GELP
David Woodward
Director of Community Engagement
Shamshi Karim
Director & Secretary
Diamond Karim
Director
Dr. Omar Karim
Founder
The GELP Foundation is registered as a not-for-profit society with the British Columbia Registrar of Societies and Corporations Canada under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.
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