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First-Gen Youth Hub MYERA IFTIKHAR SOCIAL JUSTICE Rooted in her own experience, Myera Iftikhar is dedicated to reducing barriers for marginalized communities in spaces like healthcare, work, and education. With previous experience running a digital literacy workshop for families in marginalized or lower socioeconomic backgrounds, Myera took this vision a step further by creating a more permanent forum for first generation youth and youth from lower socioeconomic background to gain skills, knowledge, and solidarity: the 'First-Gen Youth Hub.' "I conducted 5 youth skill and community building sessions as 'First Gen Futures'. First Gen Futures aims to address the needs of first generation youth through skill, career, and community development. The key sessions were conducted in November/December and included a welcome/overview of First Gen Futures, a skills session on conflict resolution, a wellness social, career and resume session, and first-gen end of year social." While skill-building was the central focus of the programming, Myera also notes that the community created within the sessions could be of equal value to the participants. "At one of our sessions, the wellness session, we had a small group of participants… one of the participants in particular empowered me and validated why I developed this project in the first place. They were in their first year of post-secondary and they mentioned how they were the eldest sibling from an immigrant household. They shared that it was a rough transition and that it was very daunting understanding university life. As there were a few in the group who were in upper years, they provided support and tips they have used in the past… This experience echoed the type of support I envisioned for this program, where I could build a sense of skills and a toolkit for individuals, but that especially youth can support youth in helping navigate these systems, many of whom are navigating these for the first time." Myera's work takes concrete action towards five SDGs: No Poverty Goal 1), Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Gender Equality (Goal 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10). "This project personally empowered me as a leader. Before #RisingYouth and Sprout, I never saw myself as being able to lead a project or be a youth leader. I would only dream of being able to address these gaps that I faced and that other youth still face. The project however, gave me the confidence in knowing that I am able to lead a project, make key decisions and manage a team to see the project implemented and delivered." As for Myera's next steps, community building amongst first generation youth remains a top priority. "Ideally, the project's future impact is to build a sense of community and knowledge sharing/resource development to address needs for first generation youth across Canada. I would like for the project to expand and perhaps even for subnetworks and areas that allow for intersecting identities related to first gen". SPROUT IDEAS FELLOWSHIP IMPACT REPORT 38

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