From Canada to India. West to East.
From one democracy to the largest democracy.
From a youth, working for youth, with youth.
When I was 7 years old, my parents took me to Little India, in the east-end of Toronto, Canada.
I went to school the next day and told all my classmates I had driven to India with my family and even had delicious Indian food! My teachers and classmates were incredulous and said it was an impossible task. A friend pointed to India on the World Map and traced his finger along the ocean-route to Canada. He innocently said that the only way I could get to India was by boat or plane.
I was young, naive, and curious. I was hungry to know more.
The truth for a young person in Canada: There is democracy and diversity, but there is still ignorance and unawareness of self and others.
When I was 22 years old, I graduated from Nursing School and started my first job in a Community Health Centre in a remote Indigenous community in Canada.
I was young, bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed and I had no idea what life had in store for me.
Indigenous Peoples in Canada have a longstanding history of European colonization that has led to a cultural genocide, intergenerational traumas, and displacement from their traditional lands. These societal disparities are still present today leading to health inequities, poverty, and lack of access to resources for Indigenous communities. Today, the Indigenous youth population is the fastest growing in Canada. However, many of the youth do not have sufficient strength-based supports that focus on their autonomy, self-identity, and resurgence of culture, language, and traditions.
The youth are strong, but they are silenced.
The truth for youth in Canada: There is democracy and diversity, but there are still spaces where youth voices are not heard and where injustices against youth are being perpetuated.
When I turned 28, I was given the opportunity for an internship to New Delhi, India, on a 6-month placement with my Masters degree. Coming to India meant going against the caution and advice of my family. Growing up in a Chinese-immigrant family meant being fed many fears, preconceived ideas, and stereotypes of India. However, New Delhi surprised me and dispelled many of my fears. Indian culture is actually more similar than different to Chinese culture. I am quickly learning about the diversity, strengths, and culturally progressive movements of India.
I simply needed to be bold and open to being humbled.
The truth for a youth in Canada: There is democracy and diversity, but there is still racial discrimination and xenophobia between ethnic groups in the society.
So how do we make sense of these truths?
Perhaps we can agree that regardless if you are in Canada or India, developed or developing, practicing democracy or “demo-crazy”, there still exists a disparity between democracy in the government and diversity in the country. There exists a demand for youth voices to be heard and for youth to be allowed space for development, education, and social action. There is an urgency from the youth to understand what exactly is democracy and how do they practice democracy in their daily lives in a world that may stifle them?
Youth want to be heard, understood, and given space to be who they are.
I am stationed here with Delhi’s homegrown 37-year old NGO, Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA). A research organization that focuses on capacity development and gender-equality of individuals and communities. When I arrived, the youth engaged me in developing education modules in sexuality and identity. It is believed that awareness of sexuality and self-identity will allow youth to lead their peers in becoming autonomous and create equitable spaces for everyone.
The youth I work with are some of the most intelligent, self-driven, motivated, and youthful, yet mature, people I have ever worked with. They are resourceful and passionate about having their thoughts and ideas heard in the world. It soon became clear to me the importance of shifting the power back to the youth and allowing them the self-determination to lead projects on their own.
Currently, a big project I am working on, called “Youth-n-Democracy”, seeks to create arts-based spaces for youth voices in India’s democracy. The project supports youth-led participatory research for youth to become active and engaged agents of social change. Today, India is the world’s largest democracy with the largest population of youth in any time in history. Henceforth, there is no better time than now to mobilize Indian youth. I am also working with Youth-n-Democracy to design a youth-led Fellowship program for university/college students in Delhi this summer 2019 (you can check out their Instagram page @pria_youth and also their website to apply to the Fellowship program).
As a youth amongst youth, I believe we have the chance to rewrite the dominant narrative written by our culture and society. Even though it is easier to walk in the footsteps of others. Even though it would be safer to stay within the safety of our homes and families. For myself, I firmly believe, with my positionality and privileges, that the best way to create change and be a responsible global citizen, is to leave my front door and ditch my biases, prejudices, fears, and judgements there too… before I engage with the real world with openness, humility, and creativity.
