On February 18, 2016, 40 Sai volunteers from Ontario Regions 1 and 2 partnered with Junior Achievement of Canada to deliver the Stronger Together Diversity in Action program to over 810 students across the Greater Toronto Area.

Since 1955, JA Canada has been inspiring and preparing youth to succeed by providing opportunities to learn financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness skills with engaging programs and the help of dedicated volunteers. Over the course of the day, volunteers led students as they explored the concept of diversity from a variety of perspectives, including:

• Career ambition and the necessary pre-requisites to be successful.
• In thought through situational role-play, putting oneself in the other person’s shoes, as well as conflict resolution.
• From the perspective of diversity in physical ability and its relationship to the design of products and systems.
• Diversity of popular culture, cuisine and geography.

Throughout the day students worked in groups to allow for further cross-pollination of ideas and to create an engaging environment. Although most of our volunteers had limited teaching experience prior to this program, each and every one of them excelled in their own individual ways as they waded into the unknown and took on the challenge.

Our future world will be one of even more love, respect and inclusivity and less man-made barriers than exists in the world we live in today. This was undoubtedly evident after spending a day discussing Diversity in Action awareness and inclusion with 11 and 12-year-old grade six students. We were incredibly fortunate to spend the day with these bright young minds who passionately explored the subject. Vibrant opinions emerged while they brainstormed through various real-life scenarios, engaging in healthy discussion and giving them a firsthand opportunity to experience different views in their breakout groups as each child shared, listened, understood and valued their friends’ views.

During discussions and activities on gender equality, disability accessibility, ethnicities etc. every participant was eager to contribute. They loved learning from and interacting with the youth through the program. The children shared the importance of respect and equal treatment for every person irrespective of differences. They recognized that we are all the same yet uniquely special, and that anyone can aspire and achieve whatever they set their hearts and minds to. Their passion, along with their open loving caring hearts will continue to be an inspiration, and shape a beautiful tomorrow.