About Youness Robert-Tahiri
Hello! I am a senior undergraduate student in the Psychology Research program at the University of Toronto. I am passionate about children's mental health and the many ways that youth can overcome adversity. I am especially interested in developing interventions that promote resilience for survivors of childhood adversity. I balance this emotionally heavy passion with a deep appreciation of the world of comedy. This entails performing comedic improvisations at various venues in the city. As such, I am also fascinated by the relationship between comedy and mental health.
My Summer 1 research project explored the relationship between childhood adversity, childhood aggression, and childhood self-regulation.
My Summer 2 Leadership-in-Action project involved me independently developing and implementing a comedy-based psychosocial intervention for teenagers experiencing adversity at SOS Children's Villages in Cape Town, South Africa.
Please feel free to reach out to connect :)
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LiA Project Outline: A Comedy-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Teenagers Experiencing Adversity
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Recent Comments
This is such a great initiative, Amy! I had an extremely fulfilling time completing my LiA project out of SOS Children's Villages in Cape Town, South Africa last summer; if any scholars reading this have any questions regarding my experience there, please feel free to reach out.
As you know, dear Youness, the wonderful thing about improv is that we always say, «Yes, and…», acknowledging and accepting what has gone before (never refusing a proposal), and building on it, taking a step forward and creating a springboard for the next line in the scene. What you describe in your report as the ‘irony’ of using improvisation skills to rescue your show is a testament both to the power of improv as a performance art but also to the transferability of the skills you master and teach so enthusiastically. Young people who can improvise on stage will go away with so many useful competences for their future lives: positivity and respect, flexibility and resilience, trust and courage. By the way, I have used Emotional Quadrants in improv myself. While reading your report, I began in the ‘curious’ quadrant, walked through ‘amused’ and ‘impressed’, and finished the journey ‘deeply moved’. Thank you for sharing your experience, and for your support for SOS Children’s Villages.
Wow, thank you so much for your supportive words, Marc! If there was an ideal takeaway that I wanted readers to have from my report, it is exactly what you described. I am so grateful to connect with open-minded individuals like yourself who understand the possibility of using comedy to support child development.
This is so interesting, Bennett! I was in Cape Town for my project, but I was in your area near the end. Great job!
Beautifully written, Younes!
stellar slide - though I miss Noah :(
Hahaha - Noah was the star of my Laidlaw 3MT last year, but I have a feeling you'll enjoy this year's 3MT even more—stay tuned!
Every time I read an LiA reflection I think I cannot be more impressed or moved, and then I read this. And tbqh, I am a mess. Typing in tears is really not ideal. From setting such thoughtful SMART goals including prepping from January through to refusing to take the easy option and cancelling the show, you have demonstrated not only how to make the most of your LiA experience, but also how to give and grow the most; in short, how to be a good leader. I am so delighted that you had such an amazing experience; obviously for you and for SOS, but mostly for those students whose lives you have changed forever. I am so glad SOS want to roll out your work. Perhaps you can coach some Laidlaw Scholars to go next year and continue your incredible work.
Thank you so much for these extremely kind words, Susanna—I really appreciate it! Your support throughout has been so appreciated, and I am very grateful.
This video is so epic. Great work, Alondra!
Congratulations, Anusha! This is huge.