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Workshop and Speaking

Interactive workshops and talks exploring identity and Tamil heritage designed for dialogue and discovery

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Meet Kasthuree

Kasthuree Thiyakalingam is a researcher, cultural practitioner, and content creator based in Toronto, Canada, whose work explores Tamil heritage through texts, oral traditions, and lived practices.

 

Understanding that colonialism, war, and genocide left Tamils with cultural disempowerment and fragmented narratives, Kasthuree’s work seeks to rediscover the foundational principles and philosophies of Tamil heritage in a way that is both culturally grounded and accessible.

 

She leads workshops, a Tamil literature study group, beginner Tamil courses, online community calls, and a monthly newsletter, Tamil Reflections. Through these initiatives and her storytelling work online, she creates inclusive spaces where global Tamils can engage with their heritage, foster community, and explore traditions through self-discovery and dialogue.

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Workshops and Collaborations: McMaster Tamil Students Association (Canada), Tamil Institute for Leadership Excellence (UK), Arivakam Tamil Cultural Academy (Canada), Edmonton Tamil Cultural Association (Canada), South Asian Cultural Revitalization Program (Canada)

 

Interviews: 102.7 East FM (Canada), Tamil Murasam’s Illangatru (Norway), Tamil Murasam’s Vanakkam Tamizhe (Norway)

 

Grants and Recognition: The Didi Creative Fund in partnership with Didihood, Tamil Women Rising, and the South Asian and Tamil Women’s Collective

Workshops and Talks

Topics May Include:​

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  • What is Tamil Heritage?
    Exploring foundational principles and philosophies through texts, oral traditions, and lived experiences, while connecting them to broader conversations on culture and identity.

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  • Navigating Dual Identities
    Supporting participants in balancing heritage and diasporic realities, while encouraging everyone to reflect on their own cultural journeys.

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  • Self-Exploration & Discovery of Roots
    Encouraging personal connections to ancestry and cultural identity as a way of building empathy and understanding across diverse communities.

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  • Unlearning & Healing
    Recognizing and moving beyond inherited limitations, while creating space for dialogue on how different communities carry and transform history.

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  • Challenging Learned Narratives
    Examining internalized ideas about Tamil identity and linking them to wider conversations about bias, resilience, and cultural pride.

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  • Creating Space for Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Connection
    Practical steps for honouring one’s roots in ways that also celebrate and include the diversity of all participants.

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Workshops can be customized to suit your needs. ​

Let's discuss whether my workshops would be a good fit for your group or event. 

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        Available for Travel 

Haranyaa V, Project Manager

South Asian Cultural Revitalization Program, Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services

“It was a pleasure having Kasthuree facilitate a workshop on cultural reconnection at the South Asian Cultural Revitalization Program, supported by Canada Service Corps, Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services, and Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre! Kasthuree's dedication and passion for this topic helped create a safe and welcoming space where our participants felt encouraged to explore their cultural identities and dismantle the stigmas they hold against it. Throughout the workshop, Kasthuree spoke exceptionally as she blended personal anecdotes, interactive exercises, and thought-provoking discussions to engage with our participants. I would love to call Kasthuree back for future events, especially because of how positively her workshop had impacted many of our participants, as they've expressed how informative and empowering her workshop was in our Feedback Survey.”

Community Feedback 
Read how my work has impacted Tamils across the globe

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