Multiculturalism in Canada is important and valued, and yet immigrant and refugee youth still feel lonely, isolated and misunderstood. They want to be known, and for Canadians to understand where they came from and who they are. Diversity and multiculturalism is much more than food and clothes. To make multiculturalism work, we must move towards living in community together; building personal connections, appreciating our differences, and being truly known. Though Truepayna has faced many challenges in her life as a refugee, as she has listened to the stories of her peers, she has realized that she is not the only one that has had a difficult life. We all have struggles even though we pretend like we are okay - life is sugar coated. This has led Truepayna to believe that it is not just newcomers that feel isolated, but all of us. To make multiculturalism work, we must learn from a young age to ask better questions, to listen, and to be okay when the answers are not what we're used to.

Truepayna Moo arrived in Canada when she was 9 years old with her family in 2007. They were resettled in Langley with a large group of other Government Assisted Refugees. She was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, after her parents fled violence in Karen state in the mid-1990s. She has many memories of growing up in the refugee camp. Truepayna is graduated from Grade 12 at Langley Secondary school. In school Truepayna is exploring issues of social justice and considering her options for post-secondary school. Her dream is to pursue education related to international development and continue to help refugees and other in need.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx