A rich legacy of youth and women empowerment: Sandra Tularam shares her story
As a young girl growing up, Sandra Tularam faced many challenges. These challenges, she related, made her feel like she would never reach her full potential. However, being the determined, persistent woman she is, Tularam has achieved a great deal for herself; and this is just the beginning. But who is Tularam?
Apart from being a devoted Hindu, she is a psychologist, television / radio producer, and peace ambassador. She is also the founder / president of the Youth and Empowerment Movement – a non-governmental organization (NGO).
As the name implies, the NGO’s mission is to enlighten youth and women on how they can fulfill their fullest potential and enhance communities by fostering peace, love and harmony.
“I come from a Hindu background with a rich heritage. My great grandfather Mahipat Maraj was also a Brahmin and Pandit. He came from India as an indentured laborer. I try to maintain my religion and culture because I honor this rich background, ”shared Tularam.
“I learned about simplicity from my father. I think my father was the most humble and straightforward person I have ever met in my life. I am grateful for the values my mother instilled in me. We talk to young women about the importance of upholding their values and culture. ”
She started her professional career in 1990 and has also gained tremendous work experience. She has held positions in the State Planning Secretariat, Guyana Institute of Management, Distribution Services Limited, the Department for International Development, the Mental Health Unit, and the British High Commission in Guyana.
Along the way, she ensured that she qualified herself academically. Apart from having a degree in Psychology, she also has a diploma in tourism and several other certificates of short courses and seminars.
Loves helping them
“During my entire career, I think that my last portfolio as a Clearing Access Assistant and Consular Officer at the British High Commission was the most challenging and rewarding. This position allowed me to interact directly with British High Commission visa applicants and deal with British nationals that included British prisoners based in various prisons in Guyana. ”
Part of his job was to advise these prisoners. But Tularam didn’t realize she was doing this until she started studying psychology in 2017. “I didn’t realize I was advising prisoners. I used to go to the prisons and meet British prisoners in Guyana. I had my counseling capacity since then but didn’t realize it until I started studying psychology. ”
Apart from visits to various prisons, her working career saw her travel to countries such as Suriname, Brazil, the USA, Peru and Canada to name but a few. Currently, on a part-time basis, he advises young people and children with various psychological issues.
She also offers adult counseling.
Giving some insight into her profession, Tularam explained, “As psychologists, we are getting to the root of the problem and are studying our clients’ cognition and behavior patterns. It’s not an easy job. When talking to victims of rape, this is where I have to disconnect my emotions from the client. I want to help people; I love helping them. ”
Tularam has dealt with many rape cases involving young children.
Charitable work
“I love doing charity work. I started charity work in the 1990s with Canolfan Sai Baba, ”he added. Her involvement in charity work has been influenced by the late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana. When it comes to spiritual enlightenment, she believes that knowledge is limitless.
As such, she was a very active member in several organizations such as the Rama Krishna Mandir, Brahma Kumaris, Sai Baba, Mother Om Mission, MEL organization, Art of Living, Transcendental Meditation and SIGFA Guyana.
After gathering great information from those respective spiritual organizations, with the help of six other women, she formed her NGO. She explained that she always found herself involved in promoting peace, love and unity among young people, Hindus and Guyanese.
She does this by empowering seminars / talks and radio and television programs. To date, she has maintained and produced these programs; Today’s Youth, Living Art, Hinduism in a Changing World, and Czech Neurobiology. Youths Today can be found on Facebook where she interviewed some very influential personalities.
Tularam said she established her radio talent with two radio programs at the National Communication Network (NCN) and Radio Galaxxy in Paris, France with Enlightening Moments and Ishq Ke Sargam – The Music of Love. She is now in the National Television Network (NTN) with the radio program: “Discovering You – Awakening Your Inner Power”.
Currently, she is continuing her humanitarian work by traveling to different parts of Guyana and empowering youth and young women, and touching the lives of many through the NGO, as well as the radio and television programs.
Support
“I need to reach out to our people / women more widely but unfortunately I am not getting the support even though I have reached out to some relevant authorities. I’m trying my best with my radio program but I also need businesses to support this program. “
According to her, “It’s not easy being a woman and standing up for yourself. I will continue to do my best to do what I can in my own small way for our children and our women. “What I find in Guyana in most cases is that if you don’t come from an influential background, you’re let down. I had to work hard on myself and my character. ”
In this regard, he noted, “We need to help grow Guyana. We need to build our young people. I have different types of people on the radio program. I am a patriot from Guyana. I think we women should have more support for this. I am an advocate for women. On this note, he appealed to Government businesses and agencies to sponsor the radio program.
Tularam’s motto is: “Life is not an easy journey and there will always be many obstacles in your way that sometimes make you feel disappointed or frustrated. But no matter what obstacles may come your way, always stay focused, stay humble, simple, and work towards your goals decisively. For goodness is always a victory! ”
