RADICA MAHASE
This Friday, we celebrate International Youth Day, a day designated by the UN to acknowledge the contributions of all youths in achieving the SDGs. I am very happy to highlight one youth who is focused on making a positive impact in TT.
AMRIT LOCHAN is a 21-year-old volunteer at Support Autism T&T (SATT), an NGO actively involved in creating opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. He is a tassa drummer with Southside Rhythmz Tassa Drummerz. He is publicly known as DJ Vybz and when he’s not DJing he is busy running Amrit Sounds, a company that provides sound systems for any events – from music trucks for weddings and funerals to PA systems for events at any locations.
According to Lochan, “I live for music. I am heavily involved in musical entertainment. That’s my passion.
"Ever since I was small, I enjoyed being a part of the music industry. Since then, I have been playing music with different pundits and religious groups. I am talented with the tassa drums, I also play dhantal and dholak. I like to see people enjoy themselves.
"I got involved with SATT from its very beginning. I attended the same school, San Fernando Central Secondary School, as Maya Nanan, who was already a youth autism advocate. When I saw the work, they were doing, I was interested in helping out, especially with my music. I like the NGO’s vision and I saw they were doing something good for the country, trying to improve the world for autistic children. That’s when I joined as a youth volunteer.
"I volunteer with SATT because I enjoy helping people. There is not really much I can do financially, but helping with my time and music, in any little way I can, I believe that I can still make a difference. I will always be interested in helping people because I want to make my country better in whatever way I can.
"Being a part of SATT has taught me so much about autism and autistic people.
"Before I didn’t know anything much about autism. I heard about it here and there but I had never met or interacted with anyone with autism. As a youth volunteer I understand things such as meltdowns and 'stimming' and learnt how to help them with their sensory issues, etc. I am grateful to be a part of this NGO and to learn more about such a special group of people.
"I want a simple life in the future. I want to be financially stable enough to be able to own my own home and to have a small family.
"I want to be able to help others and to make others happy, not only through music or through entertainment but in general. I just love that I can make people happy. My world is simple. I am not a fancy individual or anything like that.
"I believe that youths like myself can make a difference in TT by influencing other youths in a positive way. So for example, if a youth joins SATT or any other organisation that has a positive drive, that youth can continue to spread that positivity and influence other youths. I mean, we all have friends, cousins, family – if we just influence others in some positive way, and keep
