FAQ

1. Who should apply for TASSA’s Summer Workshops?

TASSA is a great fit for South Asian and Indo-Caribbean youth aged 15-20 who: 

• are interested in one or more issues of justice and solidarity, including (but definitely not limited to) racial justice, gender justice, justice for workers, disability justice, climate justice, transit justice, interfaith and multiracial alliances and more

• want to learn practical skills to make change in their communities

• are interested in participating in interactive community education workshops

• are open to learning and building community

We also value all types of leadership experience (e.g., family caregiving, community care, advocacy, activism, social justice volunteerism, community organizing) that applicants might have!

2. How do I apply for TASSA’s 2023 Summer Workshop Series?

Use this online form.  Applications are due July 12, 2023.  Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until all spots have been filled, so please apply sooner than later!

3. What are TASSA’s goals?

The goal of the summer workshop series is to support youth participants to feel affirmed to build power and solidarity, to be empowered to work together to put what they learn into action to make change, and to build a community of peers and mentors.

4. What exactly do you mean by South Asian and Indo-Caribbean?

“South Asian” and “Indo-Caribbean” can refer to a person who has roots in what is now Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.  This also includes people in the diasporas whose ancestors migrated from places in South Asia and built communities in other places - including but not limited to: Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, the Persian Gulf, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, Uganda, the USA, and many places in between. We recognize that there are many ways that people describe their racial and ethnic identities (e.g., Brown, West Indian, Muslim, Kashmiri, Tamil, Panjabi, mixed-race, Sindhi, desi, Sikh, Gujarati, etc.) and welcome all who identify as having roots in, or a diasporic connection to, these places and ways of identifying.

5. Why does TASSA exist?

We exist to build South Asian and Indo-Caribbean youth power!  We’re inspired by our peers at Chicago Desi Youth Rising, Desis Rising Up and Moving, and Bay Area Solidarity Summer.  We’re also inspired by what we’ve learned from histories of social movements and thought it was time to make space here in the Greater Toronto Area.  

6. What if I don't know my summer schedule yet? 

We will make selections from applications by mid-July or earlier.  We ask that you confirm your schedule (e.g, shifts at work, family events) to allow you to fully participate in the workshop series you select (September 1st and 2nd in Toronto or September 9th and 10th in Peel). If things change and you can no longer attend, please email us asap so that we can open up a space for another participant!

7. Who is facilitating TASSA’s workshops? Will there be chaperones at the two-day event?

TASSA’s adult facilitators will be present throughout the event.  TASSA’s lead facilitator is an experienced teacher and youth worker and adult facilitators all have youth work experience.  We will be accessible and available for conversations to support you (and your parent(s)/guardian(s)/family if they have questions)!

8. Is there a fee to participate?  How will you recognize youth participants?

There is no fee to participate.  We honour youth time and labour!  Accepted participants will receive volunteer hours and be paid a $100 honorarium for participating in both days of the program.  We’ll also provide meals each day.

9. I still have a question!

Email us at TOareasolidaritysummeralliance@gmail.com 🙂!