What is The Change Engine

The Change Engine is your chance to spark real change on campus! Whether your idea tackles social justice, sustainability, student wellbeing, or any other concern, you could win funding, mentorship, and support to make it happen. 

Lead real projects that make a difference on campus. Develop advocacy skills, build your portfolio, and gain recognition as an Impact Driver. Plus, win up to $5,000 and expert mentorship to bring your ideas to life! 

Applications close November 15th, at midnight.
Event takes place in January, 2027.

The Change Engine is YOUR chance to turn big ideas into real change.
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Got an idea worth $5,000?

Applications for The Change Engine 2026-27 are open. Pitch your project now.

Why does advocacy matter?

Advocacy is how students can drive real change, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. It’s about identifying challenges, developing solutions, and rallying support to make those solutions a reality.

At WUSA, advocacy has led to significant improvements, from better mental health services to more support for gender-based and sexual violence.

When you engage in advocacy, you’re helping to shape the future of the student experience – not just for yourself, but for everyone.

Students discussing mental health strategies.
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How it works

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Flowchart showing steps to submit, pitch, fund, and execute an advocacy idea on campus. Step 1: Submit your advocacy idea. Step 2: If selected, pitch your plan to judges. Step 3: Win funding ad mentorship to execute your project. Step 4: Bring your ideas to life on campus!

2 Winning Projects.

$5,000 Each.

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$10,000

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After review, your projects will be shortlisted to pitch at the final event. Two winners take home the prize plus perks like mentorship, marketing support, and a spotlight on social media and WUSA’s website.

  • $10,000 total funding available
  • 2 winners selected
  • $5,000 awarded to each project

— Winner —

$5,000

— Winner —

$5,000

Every Winner Also Receives

1-on-1 Mentorship

Marketing Consultation

Social Media Spotlight

WUSA Website Feature

FAQs

This is an opportunity for University of Waterloo undergraduate students to transform their advocacy ideas into tangible impacts on campus, creating real change for their peers. We encourage students to take their grassroots advocacy concepts and make a difference. You’ll have the chance to implement your ideas with the support of prize money and mentorship!  

This is only open to undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo.  

Individuals cannot participate in the event on behalf of a service or club at the University. However, individual members of those groups are welcome to submit ideas if they do so in their own time and not during paid work hours. The submissions must come from them personally or as a group of students, separate from the service itself. This event is not open to graduate students, faculty, or alumni.  

You may present individually or up to a group of five individuals. 

  1. Clear Goals and Objectives: a positive and clear message, addressing a specific problem.
  2. Empowerment and Elevation: Focus on empowering themselves, and or others (students) through initiatives or campaigns.
  3. Communication: using multiple tactics and strategies such as setting meetings, building connections, campaigning, boothing, social media campaigns, awareness campaigns, resource sharing to communicate your project.
  4. Strategic Planning:  
    • Vision/Mission: Define or reaffirm. 
    • Goals: Set SMART objectives. 
    • Strategy: Develop action plans. 
    • Implementation: Assign roles and timelines. 
    • Execution: Put the plan into action. 
    • Monitoring: Assess progress regularly.
    • Review: Adjust based on feedback.
  5. Partnerships and Collaboration:  local organizations, student groups, and community leaders to amplify efforts and resources.
  6. Resource management: understand how to use your resources wisely. 

  • Please use the funds exclusively to support your project’s goals.
  • Be sure to include meetings and stakeholder fees in your budget proposal.
  • Plan to use the full budget thoughtfully and effectively. Aim to create a project that can thrive and continue even after WUSA mentorship ends. You’re welcome to allocate part of the prize as an honorarium.
  • Remember, this is your project—WUSA is here to guide and support, but you’ll be leading the way. Think ahead and plan how you’ll distribute the funds throughout your project’s timeline

Bring your great ideas forward! To participate in The Change Engine, you’ll need to submit your application, fill out the registration form!

The WUSA Advocacy Team will reach out to you if your idea is selected to participate in The Change Engine. Other great ideas may get an opportunity to get spotlighted on WUSA webpages!  

The judges will consist of both students and staff.

We’re happy to offer accessible formats and alternative methods for participating in the process. To learn more or request an accommodation, please contact Amrit Khaira, Advocacy Specialist, at akhaira@wusa.ca  

Past Winners

Meet the students who turned their Change Engine grant into real impact and see how they put their funding to work.

Clear The Haze

Led by Arthi Bala

Clear the Haze aims to reduce student substance dependence through education and stigma-free support. The project pairs peer-led guidance, inclusive quitting strategies, and practical skill-building to make support accessible for students.

  • Currently in the research and discovery phase, conducting workshops and events to gather student feedback, and better understand their needs.

How the funding was used

$2100

Student and steakholder engagement

$1700

Campaign and outreach

$1200

Training and Contingency

H2oloo

Led by Giordana Staudohar & Isabelle Lee

H2oloo seeks to increase the number of filtered water fountains in residence buildings, while encouraging hydration and promoting eco-friendly water sourcing. The project focuses on improving everyday student wellness by making clean, sustainable water more convenient and accessible.

  • Secured $138,000 investment in hydration infrastructure at University of Waterloo

  • Currently focused on raising awareness on initiative

How the funding was used

$2500

Research Materials

$1500

Campaign materials and outreach

$1000

Student Engagement

WYGO

Led by Christopher Oka & Jocelyne Murphy

WYGO helps address student loneliness by hosting mystery events where participants take part in activities without knowing the details ahead of time. The goal is to create more organic social connections and encourage students to move from passive attendees to active community builders.

Through The Change Engine, WYGO was able to take bigger risks, grow its platform, and build momentum for the future. Christopher and Jocelyne plan to continue pursuing WYGO full-time after graduation, and we’re excited to see where they take it next.

  • Hosted 4 mystery events throughout The Change Engine timeline.

  • Built momentum toward pursuing WYGO full-time after graduation.

How the $5000 was used

$2,000

Events
Venue rental, food costs, marketing, stakeholder & participant relationships

$2,000

Events
Design & software freelance
Understanding audience, analyzing event data, gathering insights

$1,000

Finale event
Longer-term & broader community, stakeholder & participant relationships

EcoPlastic AI

Led by Dev Katyal

EcoPlastic AI is an interactive mobile app designed to promote sustainable recycling habits. The app lets users scan plastic waste and receive real-time guidance on proper disposal. It also features educational modules, quizzes, and sustainability tips with the long-term goal of reducing plastic waste on campus by 30% within three years.

  • App is now live and available to students.

  • Current focus is increasing awareness and engagement on Instagram.

How the funding was used

$500

Launching the program
App fees, website creation, testers

$600

Campaigning
Posters, pamphlets, social media ads

$1,200

Events
Banners, decorations, prizes, food

$500

Feedback survey
Participation remuneration

WalkSafe Pilot Program

Led by Katie Traynor

This project addresses student safety concerns, especially for those walking alone at night. By identifying and improving high-risk areas on campus, it proposes better lighting, enhanced surveillance, and an expanded Walk Safe program to create a more secure and inclusive campus environment. Katie brought this forward at WUSA’s Annual Members Meeting in March and it was approved where it was approved, and continued to help move the work forward in her capacity as a WUSA Board member.

  • Approved at WUSA’s Annual Members Meeting in March.

  • Advanced through Katie’s role as a WUSA Board member.

  • Helped move forward conversations around student safety and the future of WalkSafe.

How the funding was used

$250

Marketing & advocacy
Websites, posters, social media posts, meeting with stakeholders

$700

Piloting the program
Required equipment

$100

Staff appreciation
Food, gifts, etc.

Follow along the journey of your Change Engine winners: