He died from a stabbing a decade ago. Now, his sister is using his legacy to help Toronto youth

It's been more than a decade since Nashom Berhane died after a stabbing in Toronto's east end, and since then his sister, Arsema, vowed his death wouldn't become another statistic. 

The scholarship she started in his memory to help Toronto youth is approaching its 10-year goal of awarding 34 ambitious teens — each for one year of Berhane's life that was cut short. 

The Nahom Berhane Scholarship for Leadership and Inclusion is now in its final cycle, a milestone Arsema once doubted they could achieve, making it feel like a full circle moment. 

After all, it's what Berhane, who dedicated himself to supporting youth, would have wanted, she said.

"We did it. We really did it as a community" Arsema said. "We've been able to support so many young people in the very way that he was." 

With his mantra that "everyone has a story," Berhane was known as a charismatic leader, uplifting others around the city through his work with Access Alliance, a health centre.

Berhane died after being stabbed on a Danforth Avenue sidewalk in 2014, leaving behind two daughters and a community in mourning. A 23-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in his death was later found not criminally responsible.

Those who knew Berhane quickly rallied around Arsema, voicing how much he and his work meant to them. 

That, says Arsema, made her realize: "Let's have a collective healing process, but let's have something that's going to have an impact for years to come." 

Scholarship represents 'backbone' of Berhane's work

She says there weren't many scholarships at the time to support vulnerable and marginalized people in the city, prompting her to partner with Access Alliance to create one with a promise to keep it going for 10 years. 

Recipients get $4,000 along with mentorship opportunities and ongoing support – something Arsema says was the backbone of Berhane's work, adding he always rooted for the underdog. 

The scholarship isn't necessarily meant for those with the highest grades or with the best connections, she added, but for youth who have a track record of helping their community and aspire to keep going in spite of barriers. The scholarship also prioritizes applicants of African descent.

"We can help you. We can be the mentor, we can be the person that gets you through that door," she said. 

Arsema said when they first started the scholarship, they didn't know if they'd be able to raise enough money to keep it going for 10 years.

"All of that was just aspirational and coming from a place of, of course, grief," she said. 

Thanks to over 500 people who donated in the past decade and corporate sponsorships, they'll distribute a total of $118,000 through the scholarships. Applications for this cycle close at the end of March. 

With the decade-long promise coming to fruition, Arsema says this will likely be the last year the scholarship will be given out in its current version, but she still wants to continue her work inspiring people in her brother's memory. 

And now — they have a full network of recipients who can help. 

'A ripple effect'

Access Alliance says many of those who received the scholarship now work in fields ranging from health care to social work while continuing to uplift their communities. 

One of them was Stephen Mensah, who was only 18 when he applied and now serves as the executive director of the Toronto Youth Cabinet.

He says the scholarship made it possible for him to focus on his academic and community work rather than stress about paying for things like books or food. 

"There's no one who can look at the life of Nahom and not feel motivated, not feel encouraged to continue to persevere," he said. Mensah added that with crime among youth being a prominent issue in the city, scholarships like Berhane's play a pivotal role.

"It's like a ripple effect, you know. It inspires me, I inspire my peers in my community." 

Arsema says it's been healing to watch scholarship recipients uplift their communities in the same way Berhane did. 

"The legacy that Nahome has left while he was here and what we've been able to sustain, that's the real story for me."