The Youth Code

The Youth Code, a new foundation supporting abused children through the arts, was launched with a beautiful, emotional and inspiring Inaugural fundraiser at One King West earlier this month.
Actor and founder Kalista Zackhariyas started the program after growing up in an abusive environment, which led her to living on the streets. As a survivor, she wanted to give back by starting The Youth Code to rehabilitate and help the healing process of children dealing with abuse, using the arts.
“I really believe in the power of the arts. It’s been my redemptive story and my reason for a happy ending and I believe in what it can accomplish,” she says emotionally.
“We all have something to give to this world,” Zackhariyas continues. “We all contribute to it in a certain way and when you have gone through abuse, there is a lot of very heavy emotions and a lot of energy that needs to be expelled. A lot of times, kids are looking for love and they will find it, but usually in all the wrong places and giving them a space to belong to and be able to take that energy and to create something and to be able to look back and say ‘I contributed to this world in a beautiful and positive way,’ that’s a huge message that you’re sending to them on so many levels. That’s something that they can make and take with them as they move forward.”
The fundraiser began with a reception of gourmet foods, a red carpet where guests and performers mingled and a silent auction raising money for the worthy cause. Bollywood star Veronica Chail and supermodel Sam Sarapong hosted the night, inviting guests to take their seats and welcoming the list of talented performers to the stage, all so different, but yet enthusiastic about supporting The Youth Code movement.
“So You Think You Can Dance” winner Jordan Clark mesmerized the crowd with her unique ability, before artist and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal performed an inspirational number about peace, which had the crowd on its feet, making peace signs and putting them in the air.
Later in the evening, headlining performers Jesse Giddings and Keshia Chante took the stage to each support the Youth Code movement through their music.
Once Keshia Chante heard about the program, she says she wanted to be a part of the launch, as she knows what music has done for her and believes in its healing impact on children. “I’ve had my ups and downs and I’ve always had music there, it’s such a therapeutic thing. I feel like there are so many kids in such difficult situations in Toronto and you can’t give every kid a therapist, but you can give them art and an outlet and I think it’s really freeing,” she said before belting her heart out to the audience for charity.
The energy in the room indicated that those in attendance shared with Zackhariyas her dream and it was a clear indicator that soon, the city will also feel the same about the healing power of music.