About | Nurtured Youth Commu

Meet the Team

Check this out and learn more about Geertika Jeyaganesha and Stephanie Slen, the Co-Founders of Nurtured Youth Community.

Co- Founder

Geertika Jeyaganesha

Geertika's work is grounded in promoting wellness. Her personal why: Mental health should be valued as much as physical health. Once this love for health promotion began, she implemented this idea through her leadership roles, including being the Co-President for her school's Athletic Council, as well as the Service and Justice Executive on the Student Leaders Committee. These experiences have given her the chance to see the needs of the age group Nurtured Youth Community caters to. She hosts community fundraisers for causes like SickKids, is involved in youth leadership programs to aid others in improving public speaking skills and has internship experience in the digital marketing, program development, and healthcare consulting sectors. Geertika's passion for wellness drives her grit to expand Nurtured Youth Community.

Co- Founder

Stephanie Slen

Stephanie, through her roles as Student Government President at Britannia Secondary School, and youth representative for her community center's board of management, passionately advocates for the students, speaking out against injustice, inequality, racism, and promoting LGBTQIA2+ rights in the Britannia district. She previously served as a sustainability coordinator for her neighborhood community, leading a gardening and cooking club for youth to raise awareness about the significance of urban agriculture. Additionally, she organized events such as beach cleanups, clothing swaps, and "adopt a plant" initiatives to inspire people to work together against climate change.

While pursuing her studies at Simon Fraser University as a 2023 Uggla Family Scholar, Stephanie dedicates her time as a site support worker for underprivileged children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Her endeavors aim to empower, support, and inspire all youth to utilize their voices and advocate for positive change in their communities.

Both of these individuals are heavily involved in their school and local communities, with an eagerness to make an impact on others’ lives. They have developed their interpersonal skills, analytical skills, and gained a strong network over time, which will all be dedicated towards making Nurtured Youth Community as impactful as it can be. The name for this organization was finalized on August 12th, after relentless planning, meetings, advice sessions, and messaging with professionals! Geertika and Stephanie are beyond excited to see the impact they make on minors’ lives, and will take feedback from their audience to ensure the core values are experienced.