Youth Programs
At VSAC, our youth programs bring together youth and adults to build awareness,dialogue, and education around preventing and addressing teen dating violence and gender-based violence. We encourage critical thinking about root causes such as gender expectations and stereotypes, systems of power, and the ongoing colonization of the lands and systems we live in.
Our work centers the lived and living experiences of youth and is designed for youth, educators, and service providers. Grounded in anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and decolonial frameworks, our programs aim to support youth from equity-deserving groups.
Black & Indigenous Empowerment (B.I.E)
The Black & Indigenous Empowerment (B.I.E) group builds on the foundations laid by Project Respect and the Black Youth Empowerment (B.Y.E) initiative. B.Y.E was a youth-led program that centred Black voices in the prevention of teen dating violence through culturally relevant workshops, advocacy, and research. Youth involved in B.Y.E. led conversations on race and bystander intervention, and worked alongside educators to shift school culture through anti-racist practices and creating safer school environments where Black youth can thrive.
B.I.E carries this work forward by creating space for Black and Indigenous youth to connect, lead, and support one another. Grounded in community, culture, and care, B.I.E fosters opportunities for youth to grow as leaders, challenge systemic violence, and reimagine school spaces through their lived experiences and collective wisdom. Through this work, the group aims to support meaningful conversations around safety, accountability, consent, and belonging in ways that reflect Black and Indigenous perspectives.
What we do
B.I.E holds space for youth to build community, share knowledge, and lead initiatives focused on preventing dating violence and addressing systemic harms such as racism, colonialism, and oppression. Youth will co-develop and deliver culturally grounded workshops, adapt existing resources, and create new tools that reflect their realities and visions for safety.
As part of this work, B.I.E also engages their peers, teachers, and school staff in conversations about how to respond to and prevent harm using consent-based, trauma-informed, and culturally respectful approaches. By centering youth voices and leadership, the program supports schools and communities to become safer, more inclusive spaces.
B.I.E. creates spaces for equity- deserving youth to step into leadership, facilitation, and advocacy roles around issues that directly impact their lives.
We’re developing and delivering two culturally relevant workshops for high schools:
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for educators and school staff
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for Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Colour (BIPOC youth).
These workshops:
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Focus on preventing relationship and dating violence
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Address systemic issues such as racism, oppression, and non-consensual practices
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Adapt existing curricula to create new materials that reflect the lived experiences of equity- deserving youth.
Our goal is to advance dating violence prevention while equipping educators and students with practical tools to foster safe, inclusive schools.
Key Focus Areas
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Youth Leadership: B.I.E supports Black and Indigenous youth to take up leadership roles in their communities and schools.
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Skill Building: Youth gain tools to recognize, navigate, and prevent harm while fostering healthy relationships.
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Education & Advocacy: The group works with school communities to build understanding around consent, accountability, and equity.
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Reflection & Growth: Ongoing evaluation and youth-led research help guide and strengthen the work.
Who We Are
B.I.E is coordinated by Anoushka Thakkar (Prevention Program Coordinator), Annaléa Sordi (Research Manager), and Katie Webb (Prevention Director), in collaboration with the Indigenous Response Network at VSAC, our consultants from various local organisations, and a circle of 12 Black and Indigenous youth.
Anoushka (she/her) is from Bombay, India, where she was born and raised before moving to the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples in 2023. With a background in mental health, she now works at the intersection of health communication and community-building, with a particular focus on QTBIPOC spaces. Over the past five years, Anoushka has contributed to research, education, and service delivery across the healthcare and mental health sectors.
Annaléa (she/her) brings over a decade of experience in youth participatory action research, program evaluation, and trauma-informed work. Her focus has been on creating spaces for youth with lived experience of mental health challenges and disabilities to lead community-based change through storytelling, data, and advocacy.
This work is made possible with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
For more information about us and our projects, please email Anoushka at [email protected]
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