Today, we’re honoured to welcome Abeer Sabz Ali, Senior Officer of Youth Programs at UNICEF Canada, a youth policy and engagement strategist dedicated to advancing inclusive youth participation across Canada and globally. With a Master of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and a BA (Honours) in Political Science from McMaster University, Abeer leads national youth engagement strategies that expand civic participation and embed youth voices into decision-making systems. In this episode, we discuss UNICEF’s mission, how UNICEF Canada meaningfully engages young people, the policy changes that could improve youth well-being, how students can get involved, and Abeer’s advice for future leaders in the nonprofit and youth development space.

Today, we’re joined by Jason Dockeray, Executive Director, and Haider Abdul-Hussain, Fundraising Coordinator at Lighthouse for Grieving Children and Families. With a shared passion for grief-informed care and accessible mental health support, they discuss the impact of loss on children, youth, and families, and the importance of building compassionate, inclusive communities of care.

Information about Lighthouse for Grieving Children:

The Lighthouse for Grieving Children provides free peer support for grieving children, youth, and their families in Halton, Peel and beyond. We offer open-ended, on-going grief support groups to help children and their familiesre-adjust after the death of a parent or sibling. We provide a forum for friendship and self-help with others who have experienced a similar loss and develop coping skills after a life-altering death.

The experience of a “life-altering death” changes the entire family and will affect a child’s life from then onwards. Our families find and create a community of understanding, stability, and support. Bereaved children and teens can often feel powerless, angry, and isolated at school and with peers. At the Lighthouse, they meet others like them, no longer feeling “abnormal”; children feel permitted to grieve and ask questions, find resources in themselves and through new friendships, to adjust to their “new normal” and recover, living life post-death to their full potential. Lighthouse groups are intended to support and stabilize families following the often-traumatic death of a young parent, child, or teen. Our focus is on improved mental health, breaking social and emotional isolation, and prevention of longer-term complications of unsupported childhood bereavement.

Visit Lighthouse's website here: https://lighthousegriefsupport.org/

In today's SPECIAL edition episode, young individuals attending BOLD Public Speaking program speak about their insights on the youth-led program and topics of their choosing! This program was founded by In 'n' Out Insights host Claire and fellow partner Valeria to provide youth an opportunity to learn and develop essential public speaking skills. Visit BOLD Public Speaking Program website to learn more about the program: https://boldpublicspeaking.wixsite.com/boldpsp