Teens Get Involved London Ontario (TeensGILO) began after Founder Bayan Saidam nearly missed a scholarship deadline in her graduating year of high school, prompting her to wonder how many other opportunities young people were potentially missing out on because they didn’t know about them.
TeensGILO, a platform launched on Instagram, aims to bridge the gap between young people and opportunities. Its mission is simple: ensure that no youth misses out on valuable chances due to lack of awareness. Soon after its launch, Bayan teamed up with fellow student Zahra Nadeem to further TeensGILO's impact.
The time Bayan and Zahra spent in Pillar’s youth engagement program was instrumental in driving the work of TeensGILO forward, so when they were looking for event space to help bring youth and local organizations together, they knew Innovation Works would be the perfect place.
In June, TeensGILO hosted a volunteer fair, called the Summer Kickstart Event, with over 50 high school students eager to explore the numerous community involvement opportunities available to them for the upcoming summer. Students connected with 7 local nonprofit organizations, listened to an inspiring guest speaker, and participated in an engaging workshop delivered by the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre. At the end of the night, all students left with more knowledge on ways they could get involved, and participating nonprofits filled crucial volunteer positions that would help propel their missions forward.
“Hosting annual events is so important to bring our virtual project to life! As soon as we entered Innovation Works, we knew that this would be the home of all of our upcoming events. The staff at Pillar made booking and executing our event easy, and the aesthetic interior design of the space guaranteed that all of our guests felt comfortable and welcome,” says Bayan.
TeensGILO’s event was made possible by the Inclusive Community Events Program, funded by donors of the Dharshi Lacey Catalyst Fund. As a youth-led grassroots organization, funding to have events like these is incredibly difficult to come by, yet in-person events are vital to expand their presence on and offline and meet their mission of connecting young people with opportunities they otherwise may not know about.
By accessing the Inclusive Community Events Program, Bayan and her team were able to host an impactful and fun event in an inclusive and welcoming space, critical to meeting their mission of connecting youth with local opportunities that can positively impact their futures.
Please consider supporting the Inclusive Community Events Program to give grassroots organizations like TeensGILO the opportunity to collaborate in a thriving community space. Donate today.