What was the initiative?
Ravia’s initiative worked on creating joy-based programming for Senior (55+) Punjabi speaking
women in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6 Territory, (Edmonton). This included doing art workshops, exercise classes, education sessions like health information or community safety sessions, and fun, socialization, and dance groups!
The initiative was initially developed as an addiction education program to add on to Sahelian programming – but in working with the community, Ravia ended up working on continuing Sahelian’s community work. She worked alongside organizations like Dementia Dastan, The Baba Nanak Trust, Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch to provide culturally relevant programming for Punjabi speaking women in Edmonton.
To continue working on addiction support in the community, Ravia has partnered with Asra: The
Punjabi Alcohol Resource on a podcast about substance use disorder in their community.
What was the community connection?
Ravia grew up in Edmonton, and is a Punjabi-speaking woman myself who is deeply connected with her culture. She believed in Sahelian’s mission, and studied Women’s and Gender Studies, and migration. Sahelian was started by a close family-friend, and continuing Sahelian’s mission with the Pathy Foundation to create space for grandmothers, and other senior women in the community was a rewarding, and grounding process.
How was it innovative?
The initiative was innovative in its guiding principles of community-led and elder-guided work, flexibility and responsiveness to community needs, relationship-building as the foundation of change, and an emphasis on centering joy, dignity, and belonging, all through diasporic, international, and global lenses.
What is Ravia doing now?
Ravia is continuing to work with Sahelian and Asra and she sees herself working with the Punjabi-speaking and broader South Asian community for a very long time. While she facilitates joy-based programming, she is still learning how to centre joy in her own life. To continue this learning journey she hopes to travel, climb more mountains, do more kiklis, and continue crafting joy with her community in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton)!