Transcript: Helping Black youth achieve their ambitions

[Eniola sitting on a large rock overlooking the water and clear sky.]

>> Eniola: My aunt inspired me to go into nursing, but I mentioned to my teacher that I wanted to become a nurse and he told me that he doesn’t think I could do it.

[Up-close view of Eniola’s back which is covered by her light-coloured hair in braids. The sky and water are out of focus in front of her. Eniola becomes out of focus as the camera moves to the right. The camera moves around her to show her face as she turns to look at the camera.]

[Eniola’s sitting in front of the camera for an interview.]

[Eniola, Student]

I was a really insecure person. 

[Eniola boards a city bus. She walks towards the camera to find a seat.]

I didn’t have those people to encourage me. 

[Eniola sitting in a bus seat, looking outside.]

I just felt like I was not around the right people.

[Close-up view of Eniola’s face with her gaze off camera.]

And then my friend told me about the Black Achievers Mentorship Program at the YMCA. 

[View of the bus from outside as it takes off to reveal Eniola standing across the street.]

[The YMCA of Greater Toronto and CIBC Foundation support youth in reaching their ambitions.]

And I got paired with Olivia.

[The camera looks over Eniola’s shoulder at Olivia who is standing across the street. Olivia waves to Eniola excitedly.]

[Olivia’s sitting in front of the camera for an interview.]

[Olivia, Eniola’s Mentor]

>> Olivia: She was shy. She didn’t talk a lot.

[The camera is inside, looking through a window at Olivia and Eniola as they sit at a table outside. They have coffee and are chatting.]

>> Eniola: She would always encourage me every single time regardless of what it was. 

[Close-up of Eniola as she holds a coffee cup and talks to Olivia, who is off screen.] 

[Eniola’s in the interview seat.]

Olivia gave me a reason to believe in myself.

[Olivia’s in the interview seat.] 

>> Olivia: I feel like a proud sister. 

[Olivia and Eniola stand in front of a red brick house.]

She has really grown into a young woman with integrity, with passion.

[Olivia’s back is to the camera. Eniola is facing Olivia and waving.]

[Olivia’s waving goodbye.]

[Olivia in the interview seat.]

[Eniola walks away from the camera carrying a black backpack slung over her shoulder. As she passes a Queen’s University plaque, the camera zooms in and lingers on the plaque. Eniola carries on walking.]

>> Eniola: I got a full scholarship to study nursing at Queen’s University. This is the person I want to be.

[Olivia’s in her interview seat.]

>> Olivia: Despite the things people have said to her, she is shattering glass ceilings for people in her community.

[Eniola is in front of a large stone building with lots of windows as she gazes up at it. The camera is moving farther away from her.]

[Eniola is facing the camera and smiling as she uses both hands to tuck her braids behind her ears.]

>> Eniola: I’m living proof of the difference the CIBC Foundation and the YMCA is making.

[CIBC Foundation] 

[The CIBC logo is a trademark of CIBC.]