12/09/2022
“No child is born a criminal.
That is what we believe here at KidsPlay, and this is something I believe in as well. My name is Nausheen Dhanda, a grade 11 student at Tamanawis Secondary. Recently my school, my second home, has been hit by an onslaught of fear and uncertainty. A child was killed, a brother, a son, a friend. Someone that was 2 years older than me. And the person that killed him? Someone I would walk by in the halls. Someone my age. And this isn't the first or last time something like this will happen.
It is important we talk about Mehakpreet Sethi’s story. This incident is something that must be shared, especially considering the way our community continues to see a rise of youth crime. His story has been shared, his death mourned, but now it is time for everyone with a voice to support our community. A Drug and Gang Forum will be taking place at Taj Park Convention Centre on December 12th, 2022 at 6 PM.
This is an event I myself am helping organize, and I ask all of you to both help me spread the word about it and to attend yourself. I invite you, not as a Youth Program Coordinator, but as a 16 year old student that doesn't want to walk down the halls and be able to tell which of her peers won't make it past 20. Kids as young as 11 are va**ng, making deals, and taking edibles. I will not and can not stand here as kids as young as my own brother are being targeted and tricked into getting involved in this drug and gang lifestyle. I humbly request you to help us reach our community, our teachers, our coaches, our youth.
It takes a village to raise a child.
We are that village.”
- Nausheen Dhanda
Kal Dosanjh City of Surrey