March 23, 2009 / Tom Godfrey, Sun Media

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Toronto Community Housing resident Silvina Hollingsworth says she's a wiser person after graduating yesterday from a human rights program and is ready to mentor young people in her Eglinton Ave. W. area.

"Before I was scared to speak about gender issues," she admitted yesterday. "I will now be educating people in my community on human rights."

Hollingsworth was among 12 human rights ambassadors -- all TCH residents -- graduating from a 60-hour Ryerson University course sponsored by the housing agency to mark yesterday's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

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The TCH, which has 164,000 tenants, is trying to change its image as one with properties laced with gun violence that are a breeding ground for criminals.

Another ambassador, Ivy Wilson, said the program will help change the attitude of residents and create strong, healthy communities.

"The training was an eye-opener for me," Wilson told a graduating class at the TCH office on Yonge St.

"This program has made me a more positive and better person."

Bao Hai Wang said he'll take knowledge obtained from the program to help others.

"The human rights knowledge I have obtained is in my heart and no one can take it away from me," said ambasssador Mohammed Sheikh.

Kim Lang said the course taught her how to cope and understand people.

"I was very ignorant and never exposed to other nationalities," Lang said. "I think this training will make us all better people."

TCH spokesman Maurice Brenner said the program was created to overcome bad publicity surrounding their buildings.

"We are turning things around," he said.

The TCH is one of the largest landlords in North America with 164,000 tenants -- or 6% of Toronto's population -- and staff of 1,400.