About Sylvia Onyeiwu
Hi there!
My name is Sylvia Onyeiwu and I am a dedicated advocate for the behavioral well-being of youth, and the family system.
Where compassion meets courage
My mission is multi-faceted, and I endeavor to provide accessible, research-founded information, resources, and tools for youths using easily digestible content. My work is aimed at creating safe spaces for youths to address and heal from trauma. I seek to redefine their relationships with themselves and how they interact with the world. I believe in education and advocacy as transformative tools are central to this process.
My professional journey began with a strong belief in the importance of family preservation, effective parent-child bonds, and education as the center of a solid society. I now understand that positive mental health, and addressing the policies that adversely impact caregivers and adolescents are at the cornerstone of a thriving family. My personal experiences growing up in a close-knit family and the environment where I grew up taught me the significance of the caregiver-child bond. I have also witnessed the impact of dysfunctional families, mental health struggles, and trauma on society’s growth. These experiences ignited my passion to unlearn, learn, and relearn so that I can support families facing similar challenges while contributing meaningfully to society.
Over the past decade, I have obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious and Cultural Studies and gained experience in brand communications and strategy, human rights advocacy, and administrative management. Now, seeking to deepen my expertise and advocate effectively for family preservation while supporting youth development, I am currently pursuing studies in Social Work.
My goal is to create a society where every child grows up in a loving supportive environment, and every caregiver is equipped with the tools to nurture their child’s well-being. I am dedicated to driving positive systems change, one family at a time, in a world where family preservation, mental health, and trauma are often overlooked.
My Story
If someone had told me when I was much younger that I would end up having a burning desire to provide multifaceted support to adolescents navigating life, I might have seriously doubted them. But here I am, having sleepless nights, burning my night candles, studying, and eagerly drawing from those who have walked these paths before me, to ensure that teenagers have access to the support and resources that they need to thrive in today’s society. While this journey has not been a walk in the park, I have intentionally driven this purpose by faith, from where I draw my strength and inspiration.
Growing up in Nigeria, I too faced my share of challenges as a young adult. The buffer I had was having a loving and caring family, not perfect, support me at every turn. My sister, especially, served as my support system. In playing her role as my older sibling, she engaged with me with love and empathy. I strongly believe she did her very best to ensure the hurdles that accompanied young adulthood spared me more than they did her. I always thought to myself how this must be the most selfless sacrifice any sibling could make. Chika did it, and keeps doing this with so much grace! Despite everything she did, nothing could not protect me from experiencing the adversities that life brought my way. Nonetheless, one thing that my sister, alongside my mother and brother, successfully did was empower me with the necessary tools I needed to navigate life and challenges on my own. These tools helped me build upon my resilience and life-goals. Along the way, I began to see how my environment and upbringing vastly differed from many of the people I grew up with. I began to see how my lived experiences shaped my worldview, choices and interests, and eventually, my professional goals.
In seeking answers to the big question that was on my mind; why are we the way we are? I discovered that at the core of humanity is belief, usually drawn from our religious and cultural beliefs. So I thought to start here, leading me to apply to the University of Port Harcourt to study Religion and Culture.
At the end of my 4-year study, I was left with an even bigger question of why we are experiencing a depletion of the family system, the impact on children, and most importantly, how we can proactively mitigate this challenge. For me, it was not only about discovering the gaps but also putting in personal efforts to join the many others who are bravely contributing their time, knowledge and resources to prevent and solve this issue, by tending to my own corner of the world in the same way they’re tending to theirs.
Reflecting on my approach to addressing the complex interplay between family dynamics, mental health, and trauma, I am committed to providing research-founded information, resources, and support to empower adolescents to cultivate healthy behaviors, and sustain nurturing relationships within their families and communities, while living up to their full potentials towards a more habitable society. How might we support parents in maintaining the parent-child bond? How might we ensure continuity of child care? What resources and skills can we provide to adolescents as a toolbox to navigate our ever-changing world?
While I doubt that I am as brave as those before me, I am confident that my intentional desire to positively impact youth and support families to thrive has led me to the decision to lend my professional work and voice to serve this community, while also advocating for systems and policy change that adversely impact caregivers and children. Leading with love and empathy as my guiding principles, I journey on a road less traveled, steadfast in my commitment to effecting meaningful, lasting change in the lives of individuals and families alike. For me, this is personal.
Speaking
I have presented at conferences, inspiring professionals and thought leaders across various organizations.
Organizational Assessment
I assist organizations in rephrasing their communication about critical issues to better connect with their audience.
Writing
I help brands tell their stories online by creating content that engages and informs their audience.