It comes from showing up, listening, learning, and taking the time to understand the people you hope to support.
That is what made our time with the students at Taviya District School so meaningful. OOCSA volunteers were invited into their classrooms to learn about their studies, hear about their goals, and spend time simply connecting with them.
There is a lot of conversation around what it means to give back, but for us, it starts with relationships.
It means creating space for young people to be heard. It means paying attention to what a community values, what it needs, and what it hopes for. It means understanding that support should never be one-sided.
One moment from the visit captured that better than we could have planned.
During a game of “Would You Rather?” we asked the students whether they would rather sing a hymn or do their homework.
Their answer came immediately.
They sang.
The room filled with their voices, and for a moment, nothing else needed to be said. There was joy, pride, culture, and connection all in one place.
That is what OOCSA wants to keep creating more of.
Not just programs, but relationships. Not just outreach, but real connection. Opportunities for young people to feel supported, encouraged, and proud of who they are and where they come from.
We are incredibly grateful to Principal Mst. Arvin Narayan, the teachers, and the students of Taviya District School for welcoming OOCSA into their school and community.
Sometimes the simplest moments remind us what the work is really about.