Inclusivity Through Diversity
Story appeared in the 2017 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY HAYLEY PICARD, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Service is a core value of Queen Margaret’s School. Partnerships with local not-for-profit organizations provide life enhancing experiences for both QMS students and their chosen service groups.
“Our aim was to create a safe space for these kids to talk and be active in the healing process.”
When Grade 9 student Muskaan Rai and Grade 10 student Aastha Patel were approached by Service Coordinator, Mrs. Jane Richmond, about an opportunity to assist in building a more inclusive Cowichan community, they did not hesitate to volunteer.
In response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the Cowichan Intercultural Society (CIS) identified a need for youth programs which focus on greater inclusivity through diversity. Muskaan Rai and Aastha Patel joined youth from around the Valley for training and guidance on how they could be active advocates for CIS’ vision of creating “welcoming communities where every person feels valued and has a sense of belonging.” The experience would be life-altering for both girls.
A CIS counsellor was paired with the girls to serve as a guide and mentor for their visits to a local elementary school where they engaged with at-risk youth. “Our training included involving children in interactive games and anonymous story sessions as a way to build trust,” explains Muskaan. “Our aim was to create a safe space for these kids to talk and be active in the healing process.” Both Rai and Patel confess that the stories and experiences shared by these children brought a spotlight to a darker side of life, a space unfamiliar to either of them.
For Aastha, hearing intense stories of racism and physical violence from young children was enough to open her eyes to larger social issues existing in her community, igniting a desire to help. “I like what we are doing with CIS and want to continue being an ear for these kids,” says Patel. “That trust and those connections are now firmly established, so it will make it easier for the quieter children to feel safe enough to speak with the group and feel heard.”
Emotions are a universal language which provide us with useful information, help us make constructive decisions and build connections with each other. The compassion and respect required of peer counsellors as part of this mentorship program has served as a growth mechanism which Muskaan admits is key to her development as a leader. “The more I learn about the world, and how different human experiences shape perspective, helps me to be more open-minded,” says Rai. “I am truly happy to have been part of this program and want to explore more ways I can help these children cope with their trauma, and eventually find a way to move on in a positive way.”
