Three youth contributors from The Starfish Canada reflect on the big questions, bold ideas, and urgent conversations they encountered at DemocracyXChange 2026.

We invited three youth from The Starfish Canada to attend DXC26 and share their first-hand reflections on what it was like to participate in the democracy summit as young people. One of DXC’s Community Partners, The Starfish Canada celebrates young environmental leaders by connecting them with storytelling platforms and a community of changemakers. Through its journal, youth contributors share perspectives and experiences on issues that matter to them.

We’re excited to share three different perspectives from DXC26:

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You Can’t Recycle Your Way Out of a Wildfire:” Notes from DemocracyXChange 2026 by Malaika Khan

Malaika is a graduate student pursuing an MSc in Geography at Queen's University, where she researches sustainable Canadian agriculture. She is passionate about climate justice, urban design, sustainable food systems, and the intersection of art and storytelling in environmental change. In her piece, she reflects on why strengthening climate, democratic, and digital literacy also requires addressing structural issues such as online disinformation and the lack of accountability for Big Tech. Read more >

From Repair Culture to Public AI: Rethinking Canada’s Digital Sovereignty at DXC26 by Maria Beltran

Maria is an undergraduate student at Toronto Metropolitan University majoring in Language and Intercultural Relations, with a strong interest in communications and international development. She is passionate about amplifying community voices, particularly around access to education and youth empowerment. In her piece, Maria explores how collaborative public digital spaces can strengthen democracy by serving people rather than corporations. Read more >

If Attention Shapes Democracy, Who Controls Attention? Notes from DXC26 by Payal Mehta

Payal is a sustainability professional and climate advocate with a background in Environmental Sciences and Geography. She also leads Reimagining Plastic, a youth-driven circular economy initiative. Shaped by her upbringing in Mozambique and her experiences in Canada and South Africa, Payal brings a global perspective to climate work and is committed to building inclusive, community-led solutions grounded in collaboration. In her piece, she reflects on how, in today’s attention economy, intentionally choosing what we consume, and why, is essential to reclaiming our digital spaces. Read more >

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Hear from additional Youth Voices in the DXC Community here.