Meet the Village.

Marteine is managed by a small team of staff and dedicated tutors.


  • Founder & Director

    EN/FR

    Hi!

    I’m Tia Tom, an engineering graduate, educator, and founder of Marteine, a student support service rooted in care, culture, and confidence.

    In Béria, Marteine (pronounced mar-taine) means “the weight of two women in one.” The name honors my maternal grandmother, whose strength and presence continue to inspire this work. Today, Marteine exists to extend that legacy through education.

    After years living in the Banff-Ledbury area of Ottawa, I witnessed the lasting impact that accessible academic support can have in underserved communities. When the pandemic disrupted many of those systems, Marteine was created to fill the gap by offering consistent, culturally responsive tutoring that students can count on.

    We now collaborate with school boards, families, and community partners to make academic support more accessible and empowering for the students who need it most. Whether through one-on-one tutoring, workshops, or post-secondary transition programs, our team meets students where they are and supports them with care.

    Marteine is guided by equity, built on trust, and committed to helping students succeed at every level.

    I look forward to connecting with you, whether you're a student, a parent, a community member, or a fellow educator.

    *Beria: is a language spoken by an ethnic group called '“Zaghawa” in Chad, geographically located in Central Africa. Chad is a beautiful country that is rich in culture and natural beauty. Marteine is derived from the Arabo-Chadian dialect “Mara-tinene”.

  • Lead Tutor

    EN/FR

    Hello!

    My name’s Rayyan and I’m a recent graduate of the Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry programs at uOttawa. During my undergrad, I had the pleasure of working with different community organizations around the campus and city, which ignited my passion for working with the community and empowering our youth.

    As a TA, I got to see how much schooling during the pandemic has impacted students learning, and how students could benefit from smaller and one-on-one sessions to better understand the world around them from a scientific lens, which is why working with Marteine is such a wonderful opportunity to help youth who may not have the same resources as their peers.

  • Tutor

    EN/FR

    Bonjour!

    Je suis Ousmane BALDE étudiant Bilingue diplômé en Administration des affaires à l’université York de Toronto.

    Je suis passionné par l’éducation, les mathématiques et le service à ma communauté.