When Teniola immigrated to Canada from Nigeria, she struggled to find people she could relate to. Everything was new – and building connections felt out of reach.
That began to shift when she joined the Black Achievers Mentorship Program at the Scarborough YMCA. What started as a way to meet others during the pandemic became a source of community, confidence, and opportunity.
“People understood me there,” she says. “I was able to let my guard down, make connections, and learn.”
Through the program, Teniola explored activities she’d never tried before — including archery and public speaking. She went on to win a YMCA public speaking competition, a milestone that surprised even her.
“At the Y, I can be myself. I have an opportunity to grow here.”
At its core, the YMCA is a place of belonging – for every identity, every background, every young person with questions about their future. Through programs like Black Achievers, that belonging becomes something more: a path to confidence, connection, and purpose.
