Youth Programs

Teenagers are constantly being told to pay attention, yet they receive little instruction on how. The truth is that once they step outside the classroom they face challenges where knowing the square root of pi cannot help them.  While the education system provides students with cognitive development, adolescents are mostly on their own to manage the emotional ups and downs that are part of their human development. That in turn can impair their preparedness for the demands of the real world and, in some cases, place them at risk for more serious outcomes such as difficulty regulating emotions and behavior, depression, substance abuse, and social isolation.

The Mindfulness Ambassador Council (MAC) changes the story and makes a case for advancing mental health and wellness.  By creating space for personal reflection and the development of human potential, program participants forge deeper connections to themselves and everyone around them. Our programs nurture self-awareness, healthy social and emotional behavior, and important life skills that will support them through all of life’s challenges. Through active experiential learning, our participants are encouraged to be self-reflective, ask questions to explore their common humanity, and develop personal resources to bridge leadership with civic responsibility.

How To Get Started

Invite our faculty to host a workshop or customized training on mindfulness for students, teachers, administrators and parents.

Complete our in-school facilitation training and bring the MAC to your classroom.

Register for our online workshops and get certified as a MAC Facilitator.

Practice TUZA, a 3-minute breathing practice to help bring your attention back to the present moment.

Invite our faculty to host a workshop or customized training on mindfulness for students, teachers, administrators and parents.
Complete our in-school facilitation training and bring the MAC to your classroom.
Register for our online workshops and get certified as a MAC Facilitator.
Practice TUZA, a 3-minute breathing practice to help bring your attention back to the present moment.
Contact Us to Learn More

MAC Global – For Mainstream

Our programs come in different packages because kids learn differently. The MAC Global is a series of 12 theme-based lessons for mainstream students that address the soft skills they need to regulate emotions, think critically, act compassionately and walk away as ambassadors for social change. Essentially, the MAC seeds cross-cultural conversations that establish a common language based on sharing, modeling and practicing 12 core competencies and secular mindfulness practices that help young people access the wisdom within themselves and within the group and grow as self-aware, articulate and caring citizens.

MAC Global Curriculum Sampler

MAC Interactive – For Alternative Learning Styles

The MAC Interactive (MAC-i) is a series of 8- theme based lessons and secular mindfulness practices for individuals with alternative learning styles. Through the council process, students develop more thoughtful speaking and listening skills, and build higher levels of self-acceptance. Shorter lesson plans, videos and interactive activities have been created to help them optimize learning while strengthening attention and goal-setting skills. In these lessons, participants also learn to deal with strong emotions through more effective communication, and find it easier and more enjoyable to connect with their communities.

MAC-Interactive Curriculum Sampler



Research Findings

In 2012, the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work explored the benefits and limitations of the Mindfulness Ambassador Council program for secondary school students. This study examined the outcomes participation in the Mindfulness Ambassador Council had on students’ academic motivation, self-management, levels of stress and anxiety and socio-emotional learning. Researchers used a mixed-method research design to gather qualitative data from focus groups, and quantitative data from pre-post questionnaires using standardized scales to gauge the program impact.

Download Research



MAC Learning Objectives

  • Build Focus and Concentration
  • Regulate Emotions and Behavior
  • Manage Stress and Anxiety
  • Build a Daily Breathing Practice
  • Strengthen Communication Skills
  • Foster Peer-to-Peer Connections
  • Build Empathy & Compassion
  • Develop Resilience

What Students Say

"Since I joined the Mindfulness Ambassador Council, I have been mindful about the circumstances around me and the way I listen and interact with others – the two things I can do to make a difference in my community."
Mindfulness Ambassador, Student Participant, Nigeria
"The MAC program teaches some of the most fundamental human skills; kindness, awareness and compassion towards self and others. For our particular group of students who often experience difficulties with attention and regulating emotion, the mindfulness practices are extremely helpful. It has become an important part of our school’s culture."
Kaili Glennon, Educator and Volunteer Coordinator YMCA Academy, Toronto