Rashme Nandakumar
April 2, 2024
1. Last time we interviewed you, you volunteered with the Mind and Spirit Youth Leadership (MSYL) program at the Hub. That was in 2015. Can you tell me what’s happened since then and where you are now?
I was in the Mind and Spirit Youth Leadership (MSYL) program from 2015 to 2020 and was chief from 2016 to 2019. The MSYL program was pivotal in discovering my passion for community-based social work, equipping me with invaluable skills and tools to effectively and impactfully engage in the community as a youth. Building upon this foundation, I pursued a Bachelor of Social Work and enrolled in a Master of Social Work program. Currently, I hold a staff role at SCHC as the Tamil Youth Outreach worker within the Community Wellness and Engagement team.
2. How do you feel your experience in MSYL helped you get to this current spot in your journey?
The MSYL program is dedicated to nurturing a sense of responsibility in youth toward addressing community issues while equipping them with the knowledge and skills to confidently lead initiatives, events, and programs that cater to the community’s immediate and long-term needs. Skills such as planning, execution, facilitation, networking, and logistics are honed through active involvement in response to community issues. These acquired skills have been integral to my social work journey, whether in volunteer, student, or staff roles. MSYL holds significant importance for me as it aids in understanding and navigating the dynamics and emerging needs within the Eglinton East Kenndy Park area, where I serve as the Tamil Youth Outreach Worker (YOW). Through MSYL, I have had the valuable opportunity to cultivate unique relationships with youth and community members, enabling me to establish meaningful connections that aid in my ability to provide support effectively. MSYL instilled in me a profound belief in the potential of youth and provided a clear direction for channelling my passions as a youth into impactful actions.
3. Can you tell me more about what you do in your staff role?
As a Tamil Youth Outreach Worker (YOW), I offer comprehensive support to Tamil Youth aged 13-29 and their families. The YOW role services encompass service navigation, educational and employment assistance, newcomer support, and emotional guidance. Acting as a bridge between youth and essential services, I facilitate warm transfers, assist in navigating necessary services, and mitigate barriers to accessing services and needs. As a YOW and SCHC staff, I aim to ensure that youth receive the resources and support they require to foster their overall well-being, autonomy and agency over themselves.
4. What have you learned about the Tamil youth community in Scarborough? What are the biggest challenges they face?
Through working with the Tamil youth community in Scarborough, I have gained valuable insights into the unique strengths, resilience and aspirations. A noteworthy aspect of this community is their efforts to uphold and preserve the knowledge and heritage of their culture. One of the notable challenges these youth grapple with is their mental health, particularly the conversations with their parents about their mental health. Intergenerational gaps and acculturation stresses pose nuanced challenges as youth navigate between their dual identities, Tamil heritage and Canadian societal expectations. Addressing these challenges requires holistic approaches prioritizing mental health support, educational and employment pathways, and culturally responsive approaches geared towards bridging the intergenerational knowledge gap.
5. Do you have any personal or work goals to inspire change for youth in Scarborough?
In this role, I hope to empower youth and their families to engage in informed, holistic health decision-making to practice autonomy and agency over self. I hope to encourage youth to become active participants in their well-being by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and removing barriers that stifle their ability to make informed decisions for themselves. Systems are often difficult and overwhelming to engage in alone, so part of my goal is to support navigating these systems and service youth need to improve their well-being and achieve what they define as success.
As new and difficult as this journey is for youth and their families, I hope to facilitate and encourage families to engage in open dialogues about the spectrum of health challenges. The topic of mental health and these challenges are often swept under the rug due to stigma, misinformation and lack of information, so I hope to break down the stigma and barriers in place that make it multifacetedly difficult to access resources and support. Discourses around mental health challenges are uncharted territory for Tamil community parents and require an abundance of support, information and navigating support particularly due to the unfamiliarity of how to address the challenges. By promoting autonomy and agency over youth health while building sound social support systems (Ie, Families, friends, mentors, Staff, and schools), I believe we can instill a sense of ownership and agency in young individuals, enabling them to navigate their lives and futures with confidence and resilience
6. What would you like to say to those invited to support the fundraising efforts in the Scarborough Love Auction?
Your support in SCHC’s Love Scarborough Auction is invaluable, and your kind participation aids in enhancing the well-being-centered programs provided to clients. Your generosity enables us to continue offering vital programs and services, focusing on sustaining initiatives to benefit our seniors and youth. The impact of your donations extends beyond monetary value, as your engagement in our Scarborough Love auction contributes to sustaining and creating programs that enable empowerment, support community members to thrive, allow for learning, growth, and essential support to enhance the well-being of our community. Most importantly, your contributions greatly support those who rely on our services on a day-to-day basis. We hope to come together to foster a stronger, healthier and vibrant community, and we hope to achieve this through your generosity.