Welcome to The Beena Project, a youth-led mental health initiative generously funded by 2024 cycle of The City of Toronto's Identify N Impact grant. Our program, designed specifically for 2nd gen South Asian and Black identifying girls and women ages 15 and above, addresses the profound challenges of navigating the grand scheme of brown girl problems.

This includes those often overlooked in the pursuit of creativity and innovation. It's for the girlies who found themselves in STEM or social sciences under the weight of cultural and parental expectations. For those who never caught a break from their parents urging them to stick to the norm. This program is a haven for those with undeveloped art skills, for the girlies grappling with labeling themselves as creatives, innovators, or artists. It's tailored for those who find it challenging to step into spaces traditionally reserved for artists.

In our mental health journey, we confront the stifled mental health and creative expression. The Beena Project is more than a program; it's a unique guidance system for those who have suppressed their creativity as a coping mechanism for the broader spectrum of brown girl struggles. We offer coping strategies for mental health within the framework of creative expression.

Meet Our Facilitators

Ria Malik

Cooking n Conversations
Abiramy Balasingam

Candle Making
Jothi Saldanha

The Journey
Ramyah Rammohan

Henna Harmony
Maham Awan

Painting with Duality
Pushpa Saha

Photograghy

Learn about our Workshops

Workshop #1: Henna Harmony

Dive into the world of henna with Heena facilitated by Ramyah Rammohan, a former EL student at SAY. This workshop is specially crafted for beginners, offering a hands-on experience in the art of non-experienced henna application. Connect with your roots as Ramyah guides you through the intricate and culturally rich practice of henna art. Unleash your creativity and leave with a newfound appreciation for this timeless tradition.
Workshop 2: Paint N Bloom

Join us for a night of reconnection with your inner femninity!. This workship will follow an acryic painting tutorial, led by Maham Awan, focusing on the use of flowers and colours to open a discussion about the duality of being a second-gen immigrant daughter. Open to all levels of artistic experience, we look forward to seeing you there!
Workshop 3: The Journey

Jothi will open up with a short guided somatic exercise and journal prompts to reflect and share our childhood journey as brown girls with immigrant parents. The art pieace will integrate our past, present and future selves through collaging. Our collages will tell the story of migration from our ancestral lands to Canada and the ways in which the wisdom and pain of our lineage can be alchemized into our powerful present and future lives. Jothi will end the session with everyone sharing their pieces and telling their story.
Workshop 4: Photography

Pushpa’s workshop will open with a discussion on our relationship to photography and documentation as BIPOC women. Journaling and creative brainstorming will be used to navigate our ideas. Film cameras will be provided to explore the world of photography through documenting different spaces and objects in Malvern. There will be an opportunity to experiment with self-portraiture and how we want to see ourselves.
Workshop 5: Candle Making N Letter Writing

Relax and unwind with candle making, letter writing, and origami. Explore themes of personal growth, connect with your inner self, and nurture your inner child in this calming workshop.
Workshop 6: Cooking N Conversations

Connect with your culture and your peers through the culinary arts! This creative workshop focuses on working together to make samosas while talking about the importance of food within our communities.