Active-8! Who Will Lead Us in 2012?

Olivia McDonald  //  February 10, 2012

For my second co-op I’m working for a small not-for-profit organization in Halifax called the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC, www.acic-caci.org ), and can I just say…I LOVE IT.

One month in and I’ve already helped  facilitate and organize an event, create press releases, teach a media relations training session, interview eight amazing youth from across the Atlantic, and have had the opportunity to surround myself with philanthropists. What I’m here to write about today is a project we’re working on called the Active-8! Campaign (www.active8campaign.com). This campaign is a way to highlight youth in the Atlantic who are really making a difference in the world and their communities at home and abroad. The Active-8 campaign was inspired by the idea that each one of us can make a difference: small change by individual Canadians can lead to BIG change for everyone, everywhere. The campaign is in its third year and to date has influenced over 5433 acts of generosity and hope–that’s 5433 acts that have changed the world. The campaign kicks off during International Development Week (Feb. 5-11) and will run until February 29^th. Throughout the month, the 8 selected Youth Ambassadors will be holding events, concerts, sending out press releases, creating social media buzz, and raising awareness about the campaign in hopes to encourage others to pledge to make a difference. The individual who receives the most pledges will be awarded $1000.

This year we have another 8 outstanding individuals who have given back in hopes for a better world. I want to introduce you to our Active-8! Youth Ambassadors and leave you with this question:

Anna Fricker – Fredericton, NB

“At 19 years old, there are few things I am absolutely certain of. There are two things however that I have come to believe without a doubt. First, there is a great deal of needless suffering and inequality in our world… Secondly, although the issues are complex and widespread, I have learned that the solutions to these issues are not out of reach.”

Hailing from small town Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Anna has always been a dedicated volunteer. In 2009, Anna had the opportunity to witness poverty and development in Tanzania, in East Africa as the World Vision Youth Ambassador for Atlantic Canada. Upon her return to Canada she has spoken at numerous schools and community groups all across the Atlantic Provinces, Ontario, and Quebec as a member of the World Vision Youth Empowered Tour.

As a committed volunteer with World Vision, Anna has also organized two 30 Hour Famines, assisted in running a Youth Leadership retreat, organized teams that found sponsorship for 62 children and helped to raise over $10, 000 for World Vision projects. In 2010 Anna represented her region at the National Youth Caucus in Ottawa. She encouraged politicians, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to make the Millennium Development Goals a priority in the G8/G20 summits. Last summer Anna had the opportunity to study International Law and Human Rights at the University of Toronto for a youth summer course. While there, she had the honour of being selected as one of Canada’s top teen philanthropists.

Her interest in human rights and volunteerism has led her to pursue a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership Skills and International Development at the University of New Brunswick. Anna is presently the Charity Representative of her Residence as well.

“I am confident that my generation will be instrumental in continuing to take action to end this needless suffering and I hope that I will be able to make a significant contribution to the betterment of our
world.”
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­ Tara Brinston – Fredericton, NB

“There are around 650 million people in the world with a disability; 400 million living in a developing country. If they all lived in the same place, they would make up the third largest country in the world. It would be the least educated country; with the highest rate of infant mortality; few employment opportunities and restricted access to democratic processes. It would be the poorest country in the world.”

This is the driving force behind Tara Brinston’s five-year focus on the rights of persons with an intellectual disability. Tara is from Fredericton, New Brunswick and is a graduate of St. Thomas University. She is a dedicated community member and a driving force in the disability movement here in Canada. In 2011, Tara was named Director for Canada’s International People’s Project where she was able to blend her two passions together; international travel and disability rights. For this project Tara helped support 12 international delegates from eight countries worldwide to complete a 21-day community impact project in New Brunswick. From this, delegates learned and shared stories about disability rights and the treatment of persons with a disability in their own countries as well as in Canada. With this knowledge, Tara was able to host a summer camp for families with children with a disability.

On top of all of these accomplishments, Tara is a regular facilitator and presenter for numerous workshops, seminars and conferences on a large variety of disability topics. She speaks to schools and campuses on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the first human rights convention of the 21st century with the highest number of signatories for the first day of signing) and the use of the “r-word”. Tara feels these two topics are of utmost importance in moving disability rights forward globally.

“I am proud to be a part of something bigger than myself.”

Tara’s vision for the future is to one day not be needed. She hopes that “disability advocates do not exist, because all people are welcomed, valued, and included. I envision governments, community groups and organizations including persons with disabilities in their conversations and planning when improving overall education, employment, and housing options and when thinking about poverty. I envision persons with disabilities having a choice and voice in their lives. I envision a world that celebrates everyone’s individual gifts and embraces the diversity that is humanity.”
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Deg Nath Neaupaney – St. Johns, NL

In 2006 Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the 6th happiest country in Asia and the eighth happiest in the world (based on a global survey). Deg Nath Neaupaney has a different story.

Twenty-year-old Deg Nath Neaupaney spent 18 years of his life living in a refugee camp in Nepal. Originally from Southern Bhutan (South Asia) he was forced from his home and declared a “terrorist” when he was 3 months old. People from southern Bhutan speak a different language, have different cultures, customs and traditions than the rest of the small country, and especially the government. It is because of this that his family was forced to leave their homes and Deg spent his childhood as a refugee. The government didn’t provide citizenship to individuals and families who fled the country for safety, so for much of his life Deg and his family didn’t feel as if they belonged anywhere.

Growing up in a refugee camp meant limited facilities and opportunities. There were many challenges, social justice was never spoken of, and life was often uncertain. As a child, Deg’s heart was moved by his experience and he has grown into a young man who feels obligated to give back to society and himself. It’s because of this that he has dedicated his life to activism and peace.

Deg and his family moved to Canada two years ago to seek a better life. Since immigrating to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Deg has become an active member in his community and can often be found helping his community members with doctor visits amd volunteering for numerous organizations and groups.

“There is no doubt that he contributes to society in just his passion and stamina alone,” said the ESL teacher who nominated him for this campaign.

While in the refugee camps in Nepal, many parents died due to drug use and Deg helped counsel and gave support to the children they left behind. He encouraged them to attend a school provided by the United Nations as well to participate in games and sports. With Deg’s help, children who may have fallen through the cracks succeed in life and were shown a ways to make the best out of any situation.

In Canada, Deg continues to work with Nepalese youth and women, encouraging them to volunteer and participate in programs and organizations in St. John’s. Deg’s leadership at home and abroad is helping to break down barriers of diversity and inequality.

Deg hopes to see a future “with justice and rights and not a world with conflict. My future vision is to see happiness and peace for all.”
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Elena Fenrick – Portugal Cove, NL

Originally from Saskatchewan, Elena Fenrick now calls Portugal Cove, Newfoundland home. Currently pursuing an Arts degree in Political Science and Religious Studies from Memorial University, Elena finds inspiration in the potential for new and creative solutions to existing problems.

In 2007, Elena had the opportunity to travel to Morocco for three months as an international volunteer with Cross Cultural Solutions. While there, she worked at a children’s hospital, a school for underprivileged children and with local university students. Upon her return to Canada, Elena began to share her overseas experiences with students at local high schools and with community groups. In giving presentations on her experiences, she quickly realized that her story would be better told through images so she decided to fundraise and return to Morocco to create a documentary. In 2010 Elena did just that: “Two Coasts, One Ocean”, a documentary she filmed and edited herself, was born.

Her film focuses on volunteers experiencing Morocco for the first time and how people can participate in development initiatives. In part, it’s a collection of interviews, insterspersed with the scenic beauty and cultural traditions of the North-African country. The second part, filmed in St. John’s, includes interviews with Global Citizenship Initiative members, a political science professor, and international students from Memorial University, all of whom share their ideas about how to become involved in international projects, on a local scale. With the help of Cross Cultural Solutions volunteers, Elena hopes to present the documentary around North America, Great Britain and Australia.

“I think the documentary will inspire others to take action because it’s a visual representation of life at home and abroad. It shows a variety of individuals from various age groups, cultures and career backgrounds that viewers will be able to relate to and, hopefully, be inspired by – much like I was,” says Elena.

Since the filming Elena has become heavily involved with English as a Second Language (ESL) education programs, Rotaract Club, and the Global Citizenship Initiative (GCI).

Her vision of the future is “… one in which people embrace the positive potential of globalization, and reject the ways in which it can cause harm.”

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This article is in two parts; you will see the rest of the Leaders of Tomorrow next week–so stay tuned!