Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today (DYLOTT) has officially launched the Diplomatic Horizons Mock Embassy & Consulate Initiative, a first-of-its-kind program designed to equip Black Canadian youth with the skills, networks, and experience to navigate the world of diplomacy and global leadership.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, this groundbreaking effort marks a major milestone in DYLOTT’s mission to strengthen the diplomatic pipeline through Global Citizenship and Community Diplomacy.
A New Platform for Global Engagement
Based in Windsor, Ontario, the Mock Embassy will serve as an experiential learning hub, enabling participants to:
Explore the operations of Canadian embassies, consulates, and missions around the world
Gain hands-on exposure to bilateral and multilateral diplomacy
Develop community-driven solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Build confidence in navigating high-level international spaces
“This is our transformative, legacy-defining contribution to the International Decade for People of African Descent in Canada,” says Candies Kotchapaw, DYLOTT Founder and Ambassador-Designate for the Mock Embassy. “It’s about creating inclusive institutions for us and by us—dismantling access barriers and breaking concrete ceilings for Black youth.”
Building Bridges Across Regions and Institutions
The initiative will foster collaboration across Canada, the Caribbean (CARICOM), and global institutions such as the Organization of American States (OAS), World Trade Organization (WTO), and United Nations platforms like the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent (PFPAD) and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
It will also serve as a launchpad for:
Inclusive trade and economic development partnerships
Entrepreneurial and cultural exchange initiatives
Signature events and storytelling projects that amplify Black Canadian leadership on the world stage
Skills for the Next Generation of Diplomats
“This program immerses Black youth in the realities of diplomacy,” says Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. “They will develop skills in negotiation, cross-cultural communication, and international relations—preparing them to lead confidently at home and abroad.”
The Diplomatic Horizons Mock Embassy & Consulate represents a strategic step toward ensuring Black Canadian voices are not just present, but influential, in shaping global conversations and policies.