Youth in
Community Action

THE PEOPLE BEHIND YICA

A shared love of art.
A shared care for community.

Meet the young people helping make YICA a welcoming place to learn, create, and connect.

Shelly He, founder of YICA

FOUNDER

Shelly He

I created YICA to bring my love of creativity and community service together.

Hi! I’m Shelly, the founder of Youth in Community Action. I’m passionate about art, education, and community involvement, and I want children to have a welcoming space where they can express themselves and build confidence.

Having moved to Canada at a young age, I understand how important support and encouragement can be when children are adapting to a new environment. Volunteering with newcomer and immigrant children helped shape the purpose behind YICA.

Through volunteering and debate club, I’ve developed communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. I bring these experiences to YICA to help children feel inspired, supported, and connected through art.

Eason Zhu, YICA team member

TEAM MEMBER

Eason Zhu

Community service, technology, and a love of music.

Hi! I’m Eason, a 16-year-old living in Oakville. Much of my volunteering has been in the local community, including with the Oakville Chinese Network, where I helped older adults use technology and provided technical support at major events.

I’ve also written articles for a youth club, summarising key ideas from books to encourage sharing and discussion.

Outside volunteering, I enjoy playing the flute and skiing. I’m also involved in my school’s choir and concert band.

Stephan helping children prepare paint at a YICA art workshop

TEAM MEMBER · GRADE 12

Stephan

A love of art and a caring approach to helping others.

Hi! I’m Stephan, a Grade 12 student who loves art and cares about making others feel welcome. At YICA, I bring these interests together by supporting children as they explore their creativity.

I believe a little encouragement can help someone feel more confident about trying something new. I hope to make each workshop a friendly space where children feel comfortable sharing their ideas and enjoying the creative process.

Kevien painting an art project at a YICA workshop

VOLUNTEER · GRADE 7

Kevien

A young artist with a strong talent for visual art.

Hi! I’m Kevien, a Grade 7 student with a passion for art, especially visual art. I enjoy expressing ideas through images and exploring how colour, shape, and detail can bring an idea to life.

As a YICA volunteer, I’m excited to share my enthusiasm for art and encourage other children to discover their own creativity.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH ART

Interested in joining us?

Get in touch to ask about volunteering and supporting our workshops.

Ask about volunteering