Volunteer Highlight July 2024: Kamala Karunakaran

Two of the strategic priorities that are a focus of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) is engaging children and young people in peace-building and human rights education; and, fostering adult learning and building community collaboration through education and dialogue on peace and human rights.

Volunteers like Kamala Karunakaran are among the young people working with our team to move these priorities forward towards realization. Read on to learn more about Kamala and their work as part of JHC’s Social Stride initiatives.

What are your (volunteer) activities and what do they involve?

As an education facilitator I aid in empowering youth by fostering space for open dialogue and help co-create tools, resources and workshops that combat online hate and discrimination. 

How long have you been a volunteer with JHC?

Since March 2023

How and why did you first get involved with JHC?

I was one among the YEG Dignity artists for the mural at church hill station. I met so many lovely people and learned a lot about JHC during this time. I felt eager to continue to volunteer with JHC and was on-boarded as one of the education facilitators.

What is it like to volunteer with this initiative and JHC as a whole?

It is alway so rewarding to see youth sessions come to reality after many months of discussions and planning. I have learned so much about online hate and discrimination in both urban and rural spaces and I feel proud to be part of the solution.

What has surprised you the most about this role?

I am constantly and positively challenged and encouraged to step outside my comfort zone to become a better leader.

Are there any learnings/ challenges you have experienced through this work that you’d like to share?

This role has taught me to become a better active listener as facilitating open dialogues sets the stage for diverse perspectives to be shared and being a better listener has helped me foster a more inclusive environment.

Some challenges I faced in my role and something I continue to perfect is managing conversations around hate and discrimination that are often emotionally charged and involve sensitive feelings. I am constantly learning to adapt my approach to fit the demographic of the group to guide the conversations with intention, care and create a safe space for everyone.

Interested in volunteering with JHC?
Check out our Volunteer Page and fill out an application form today.