Y Stories • YMCA Youth Programs
YMCA of Greater Toronto named a Top Employer for Young People
18 January 2019 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
Photo Caption: A councilor of the Toronto island Summer Day camp takes two campers out onto the waters of Lake Ontario to experience a canoe trip.
Chayanika is a YMCA staff member who changes the lives of other young people. Today we are honoured to be selected as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for the ninth year and spotlight Chayanika’s story.
Chayanika has been part of the Y community all her life – as a day camper, a Youth Leadership Development (YLD) participant, a part-time staff member with the Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) program and now as a full-time staff member with the YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN).
“As a young person early in my career, I feel lucky to have started with the YMCA, a place where I’ve grown tremendously and received so much encouragement,” says Chayanika. In her current role, Chayanika develops and leads programming for youth, supporting youth by addressing their specific needs and helping them build confidence. “I always tell youth not to consider their age as a barrier, but as an asset and a way of seeing the world in a unique way,” says Chayanika.
Chayanika feels fortunate to be in a role at the YMCA where she can support youth and share her own learnings and experiences with them. At the same time, she feels supported by a team of colleagues and leaders who support her with her goals and continue to provide opportunities for her personal and professional growth. “The Y is committed to ensuring staff have a healthy environment to grow and thrive. As a result of this environment, my enthusiasm and commitment for working with youth grows continually and I can apply my own learnings to support the young people I serve in our communities.”
Chayanika appreciates that at the YMCA, there are many ways to learn and develop. “The opportunities for staff including diversity and other training, support for educational opportunities, and opportunities to sit on Association-wide committees are all unique and valuable and speak to the culture of growth that the Y fosters.” Chayanika also appreciates the ability to make meaningful connections with other staff members and volunteers from various programs and to learn collaboratively and share ideas and best practices. “The sense of solidarity feels special in a large organization,” says Chayanika.
Chayanika values that input from young people is encouraged and that young volunteers and staff can have a say in important decisions. “At the Y, your age is not a barrier to your involvement or an impediment to your voice being heard,” she says. Chayanika has personally benefited from opportunities where she can share her ideas and know they will be appreciated. “My managers support my growth and take feedback from our team of coordinators seriously. We have input into how we do our jobs and serve our communities. On our team, there is a level of transparency that encourages learning within my role and beyond.”
The voices of our staff and volunteers and their stories contribute to a culture of diversity and enrich our workplaces and communities. We are honoured to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Young People and take pride in cultivating healthy environments for young people to thrive.
Chayanika is a YMCA staff member who changes the lives of other young people. Today we are honoured to be selected as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for the ninth year and spotlight Chayanika’s story.
Chayanika has been part of the Y community all her life – as a day camper, a Youth Leadership Development (YLD) participant, a part-time staff member with the Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) program and now as a full-time staff member with the YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN).
“As a young person early in my career, I feel lucky to have started with the YMCA, a place where I’ve grown tremendously and received so much encouragement,” says Chayanika. In her current role, Chayanika develops and leads programming for youth, supporting youth by addressing their specific needs and helping them build confidence. “I always tell youth not to consider their age as a barrier, but as an asset and a way of seeing the world in a unique way,” says Chayanika.
Chayanika feels fortunate to be in a role at the YMCA where she can support youth and share her own learnings and experiences with them. At the same time, she feels supported by a team of colleagues and leaders who support her with her goals and continue to provide opportunities for her personal and professional growth. “The Y is committed to ensuring staff have a healthy environment to grow and thrive. As a result of this environment, my enthusiasm and commitment for working with youth grows continually and I can apply my own learnings to support the young people I serve in our communities.”
Chayanika appreciates that at the YMCA, there are many ways to learn and develop. “The opportunities for staff including diversity and other training, support for educational opportunities, and opportunities to sit on Association-wide committees are all unique and valuable and speak to the culture of growth that the Y fosters.” Chayanika also appreciates the ability to make meaningful connections with other staff members and volunteers from various programs and to learn collaboratively and share ideas and best practices. “The sense of solidarity feels special in a large organization,” says Chayanika.
Chayanika values that input from young people is encouraged and that young volunteers and staff can have a say in important decisions. “At the Y, your age is not a barrier to your involvement or an impediment to your voice being heard,” she says. Chayanika has personally benefited from opportunities where she can share her ideas and know they will be appreciated. “My managers support my growth and take feedback from our team of coordinators seriously. We have input into how we do our jobs and serve our communities. On our team, there is a level of transparency that encourages learning within my role and beyond.”
The voices of our staff and volunteers and their stories contribute to a culture of diversity and enrich our workplaces and communities. We are honoured to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Young People and take pride in cultivating healthy environments for young people to thrive.
