Space for Youth
SEWA-AIFW offers culturally specific Youth Programs for South Asian youth in the Twin Cities communities branched under the names “Sooraj,” meaning sun in Hindi, and “Chaand,” moon. The mission of the Youth Programs is to create a safe space for South Asian youth by engaging in thoughtful dialogues with one another, enhancing connections, celebrating the diversity in each other’s mindsets and identities, and participating in immersive, fun, and creative activities to foster community.
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PROGRAMS
SOORAJ: 13-17 Years
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Zine and Art-Making Workshops
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Volunteer and Leadership Trainings
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Field Trips and Youth Retreats
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Movie and Game Nights
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Safety and Situational Awareness Trainings
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Culturally Specific Health Education
CHAAND: 18-24 Years
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Life Without Limca Podcast
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Brown Breakfast Club
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BAAT Book Club
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Safety and Situational Awareness Trainings
Brown Breakfast Club
Brown Breakfast Club is a youth-led group for South Asian youth between ages of 18-24. Meetings are held each month and are a mix of group dialogues and presentations with a focus on mental health, cultivating healthy relationships, healing and transformative justice.
BAAT: Books of Asian Authors and Thoughts
“BAAT,” meaning “matter” or “word” in Hindi is the name for our book club for readers and book enthusiasts ages 18 and above! We meet once a month in a virtual setting and read a variety of genres according to the group’s voting.
Safety and Situational Awareness Trainings
SEWA staff members spent a couple weeks intentionally researching and crafting tools for youth to appropriately navigate threatening events and use as a first defense in situational awareness and de-escalation in the case of an emergency.
The goal in giving these to youth is to first initiate a dialogue in interpersonal and communal safety, reduce discomfort in carrying these legal items for protection and not as weapons, and build bodily autonomy and awareness.
During this training, SEWA facilitators first lead the group through icebreaker exercises and games to strengthen the bond in the group and make the space safe for the vulnerability that would accompany this intense training. Dialogue is created on where using these items would be appropriate, and how to improvise in emergent situations.
Resources
Youth Programs Brochure, Teen Dating Brochure, “Talking About Sex & Consent with Teens” brochure
Resource hub for South Asian Parents: articles, videos, etc.
Schools, Colleges, Universities, Organizational Collaborations (reach out to youth@sewa-aifw.org)