From The Ground Up (The Amani Effect)
Dolly Roul
Ottawa/Montreal
From the Ground Up is an Afro-Caribbean, cultural and environmental learning experience led by Dolly through her youth initiative, The Amani Effect. Over 4 days, 6 youth from Ottawa travelled to Montreal to participate in hands-on workshops on Environmental Justice, Afrocentric Urban Farming, Capoeira, Steelpan, and creative Black History. It started from a vision to make environmental experiences accessible while centring on Afro-Caribbean knowledge and voices. Dolly wanted to implement it because she saw how environmental racism and systemic barriers kept Black youth disconnected from nature, cultural knowledge and outdoor spaces.
A Year of Bridging Environmental Culture and Belonging for Black Youth
Dolly is a Black second-generation Canadian with roots from Martinique and the Ivory Coast. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Studies with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is a facilitator, visual artist, and creative writer. She’s passionate about culture, social justice, youth and community engagement, and program coordination. Additionally, she’s the founder of ‘The Amani Effect’, a grassroots youth initiative for Black youth in Ottawa.
The project gave Black youth a safe space to reconnect with nature, culture, and each other.
From The Ground Up built a sense of belonging and pride by valuing their traditions and histories in environmental learning. Many participants felt affirmed in their identities and were inspired to think differently about their relationship to the land and their sense of belonging. The team learned that Black youth are eager for cultural experiences in nature and community. When given the opportunity, they bring creativity, leadership, and care to these spaces, demonstrating strong demand and passion for this kind of work. The project connected urban farmers, cultural knowledge keepers, and community organizations who shared their wisdom and resources, making the experience much richer.
Limited funding and resources, along with last-minute changes, were real challenges. The team overcame them through partnerships, flexibility, and leaning on community support. Also, since the project focused on exploring different topics in another city, finding venues, collaborators, and other project-related resources was somewhat challenging, as we are not based there.
Given the chance, Black youth bring creativity, leadership, and deep care to environmental spaces.
The next step is to expand From the Ground Up and learn from this experience to improve. Dolly would love to scale it, create learning experiences, and bring Ottawa youth to other provinces, such as BC and Nova Scotia. Maybe even opening it up to Black youth across Ontario. Another step is not only to visit other cities but also to brainstorm how to create mini-land-based experiences in Ottawa to strengthen its environmental and cultural foundations. She hopes to continue expanding The Amani Effect, strengthening the team’s local programs while also creating opportunities across the province. The ideal future community is one where Black youth feel safe, empowered, and connected to their culture, the land, and each other. It’s a community filled with joy, creativity, and belonging—a place where young people don’t just participate but lead the way in shaping the future.
About Dolly Roul
Dolly is a Black second-generation Canadian with roots from Martinique and the Ivory Coast. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Studies with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Dolly applied because she wanted to make environmental learning more accessible and centred around Afro-Caribbean voices, knowledge, and realities. She needed support to bring her ideas to life. She discovered that she is resourceful and although things sometimes do not go as planned, she can adapt and solve problems quickly. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration and care. She leads by creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and encouraged to share their gifts.
Instagram: @theamanieffect_yi
Instagram: @pnp_love10
#Black youths #Culture #Land