Youth Vision Summit 2024
Saturday, May 11th – 9am-5pm ET
Host & Speakers
Host: Ammielle Becker (She/her)
Vice Chairperson, World Vision Canada Youth Council
Ammielle kept herself busy in high school and admits that she was “all over the place,” but only because of her eagerness to embrace discomfort and her passion for community involvement. Her activities included being a swimming instructor, a freelance writer and a teen advisor for Girl Up. Going into first year systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, Ammielle states that it is a “perfect fit for [her]” as it combines her passion for problem-solving, technology and creativity. With dreams of launching her own tech startup at the intersection of biology and engineering, Ammielle hopes to explore building products that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.
Some of Ammielle’s proudest achievements to date include founding and leading her school’s newspaper club, organizing a regional STEM conference for elementary school students, winning a few hackathons and completing two internships.
Special Armchair Convo Guest: Hénoc and Jessica Muamba
Congolese-Canadian Former CFL & NFL football linebacker, Grey Cup Champ / MVP & MVC, Motivational Speaker and Podcast Host
Henoc and Jessica Muamba are influencers and motivational speakers who talk all things faith, family and fitness. As parents to three girls, Henoc and Jessica share moments of their journey as a family online. A Grey Cup champion and former CFL and NFL player, Henoc has also represented World Vision Canada as an ambassador for WVC’s Raw Hope program. He has founded the Henoc Muamba Foundation, which focuses on uplifting equity deserving adolescents. Inspired by kids from the Congo who have reached out to him, he hopes he can help bring football, mentorships, hospitals and schools to his homeland. Jessica is a sonographer by profession who has always had an underlying passion for mentoring young women through their respective journeys. Jessica loves to share her knowledge of health care, exercise science and advocacy in a manner that is humorous yet relatable.
Keynote Youth Advocate Speaker: Hannah Alper
21-year-old activist, blogger, motivational speaker, and author.
At the age of nine, Hannah launched her blog, Call Me Hannah, to share her growing concern for environmental issues and show that small, everyday actions can lead to big change. Today, at 21-years-old, she has emerged as an activist, impassioned public speaker and author. Hannah uses her voice and platform to motivate and empower people of all ages to identify their passion and take action for a better world.
Hannah has travelled across North America over 35 WE Day shows and to deliver keynote presentations at schools, conferences and corporations. Her passion drew her to spend time in Kenya with ME to WE and to Costa Rica with National Geographic. Nothing inspires Hannah more than her peers who are answering their own calls to action and she surrounded herself with them as she participated in the Teen Vogue Summits in Los Angeles and New York City.
In November 2017 Hannah released her book, Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change, based on her conviction that one person, one action, one moment can make a difference. Momentus features 19 exclusive interviews with activists, youth change-makers, and celebrities such as Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Peace Prize Winner), Lilly Singh a.k.a. Superwoman (YouTube Creator and author), and Blake Mycoskie (Founder and Chief Shoe Giver, TOMS), the book highlights practical examples of the power of positive change in the world, whether large or small. [Twitter and Instagram: @ThatHannahAlper]
Our World Vision Speaker: Miriam Booy (She/Her)
Programs and Policy Operations Lead, World Vision Canada
Miriam Booy is the Operations Lead for Programs & Policy at World Vision Canada. World Vision is a global relief, development and advocacy organization focused on helping the world’s most vulnerable girls and boys overcome poverty and experience fullness of life.
Miriam has been with World Vision Canada for 14 years. During this time, she served as a Program Manager with East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa, traveling extensively and spending two years based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She also worked with World Vision Canada’s Philanthropy team for three years as Director of Philanthropy Enablement, before moving back to Programs & Policy.
Miriam grew up in Tanzania, East Africa where her parents worked in International Development. This instilled in her at an early age a desire to support a better life for children around the world.
Keynote Youth Advocate Speakers: Maryam and Nivaal Rehman
Twin activists, journalists and filmmakers, Co-founders of The MNR Foundation
For more than 10 years, Maryam and Nivaal Rehman have been activists. They began their journey in their village in Pakistan, and at their own school in Toronto, Canada and have gone from inspiring girls in Pakistan to continue their education and delivering speeches to young people in Canada to advocating for girls around the world and representing their voices in front of world leaders at global forums like the G7 Summit.
Maryam and Nivaal were eight years old when they became activists for girls’ education through a family trip to Pakistan, at the school that their grandmother had donated her inherited land to build in their village. They began working with the girls there to uplift, support, and empower them in their education journey. They have since worked with various organizations including the UN Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign, the Malala Fund, and the David Suzuki Foundation to support their efforts through advocacy and storytelling.
In 2016, they launched “The World With MNR” to bridge the gap between the problems that exist in the world, and what viewers can do to help. In 2018, they became advocates with the Malala Fund to interview world leaders and share the importance of girls’ education, asking leaders to invest $1.3 billion in girls’ education. They also advocated at the Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C for the “Keeping Girls in School Act”.
Host: Manha Waheed (She/her)
Outreach Director, World Vision Canada Youth Council
Manha is currently a second year student at the University of British Columbia studying commerce at the Sauder School of Business. She is looking to enter the field of finance, specifically working in venture capital to help shine light on small businesses that have the potential to create social change through technological innovation. Manha is very passionate about using business as a force for good and is particularly interested in social issues including women’s rights and homelessness. She has been a part of the advocacy committee of UBC’s World Vision chapter since first year and spent a large portion of her time at high school volunteering and being a part of community service organizations. Apart from academics and extracurriculars, she really loves meeting people and getting to know others in her free time.
Ashlyn Nguyen (Ash-lin New-yen) is a 3rd year student in the Translational and Molecular Medicine Program at the University of Ottawa. As a 20 year-old advocate and student leader, Ashlyn prides herself in her proactive leadership style, which she uses to lead a group of young Canadian advocates. She represents World Vision as the Chairperson of the World Vision Canada Youth Council. She is particularly passionate about gender equality and the intersectionality between health and child rights. As a youth ambassador, she led the execution of the Youth Political Advocacy Framework with her team and participated in advocating against child and forced labour as a WVC Media Spokesperson and Youth Representative in MP/Senator meetings. Ashlyn loves working with other passionate youth in creating positive change in local and global communities.
Our Youth Vision Speaker: Cherie Wai (She/Her)
Youth Advocacy Engagement Specialist, World Vision Canada
Cherie is an International Development graduate from the University of Waterloo and a long-term World Vision Youth Advocate prior to becoming the Youth Officer in 2021. Haven had the privilege to see development work on the ground in Peru, Rwanda, and Bolivia, Cherie has personally encountered humans and stories of resilience and transformation which fuel her perspective and passion for advocacy. With experience public speaking in conferences, marching on the streets, lobbying high-level officials, and speaking on media with her fellow advocates at World Vision, Cherie has lived and seen the collective impact youth can drive in development policies and funding. Now, she aims to foster greater grounds for more young leaders to actualize global change locally through community.
Juan was born and raised in Latin America. Growing up in the Colombian context, he became aware of the critical social injustices that hinder many people’s capability to attain social mobility from a young age. Since then, he participated in multiple leadership and service programs, working with youth and rural communities. These experiences allowed him to discover his passion for service, being an agent of change, and education. Since moving to Canada, Juan has worked with non-profit organizations in the coordination of community engagement programs designed to advance social justice by working with equity-seeking groups. He graduated with High Honours from the Social Service Worker program at Seneca College and currently studies Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. He enjoys meeting new people, learning from them, and is committed to advancing social change.
Reem is a current graduate student in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University. Apart from her upcoming role as Project Coordinator with the World Vision Canada Youth Council, Reem is also the Vice President of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Graduate Society, and has served on the WISE NL Board of Directors (2020/2021). She is passionate about promoting gender equity and equality, particularly within the STEM disciplines. She is also passionate in working towards enhancing the learning experience and environment for Canadian newcomers and refugees. Reem is looking forward to joining a group of young leaders and working towards promoting children’s and gender rights both within and beyond the Canadian borders.
Government Advocacy Specialist, World Vision Canada Youth Council
Katherine Dibbon (she/her) attends Memorial University of Newfoundland pursuing a joint degree in Political Science and Chemistry (biological). She has been recognized as a leader with a commitment to making the world a better place. She recently finished her mandate on the UN Women’s Generation Equality Youth Task Force representing Canada and is currently Co-Chair of the Premier of Newfoundland’s Youth Council. She is committed to creating a positive student experience and volunteers as a Peer Mentor for university students, a University Ambassador, and a Student Liaison. She is also the Director of Communications for the Women in Science and Engineering Society, and is Vice President of the Chemistry Society. Katherine is excited to be continuing her work with the World Vision Canada Youth Council as their Government Advocacy Specialist this year.
Project Manager, World Vision Canada Youth Council
Saron is a self-proclaimed Global citizen and an advocate for Global Change. She initially developed an interest in maternal and child health during her time as an undergraduate student double majoring in biology and psychology at Western University. During her studies she sought cross-cultural experiences and recognized the importance of globalized education. This motivated her to partake in various volunteer and educational experiences that allowed her to receive a Global and Intercultural Engagement Honour. Having recently completed an internship at the World Vision Canada Research & Evidence Building Unit, Saron has been fortunate to have worked on and learned about projects concerning food and nutrition, women’s empowerment, and maternal and child health. Now, Saron hopes to further pursue her interests as an incoming MSc in Global Health Student at McMaster University. Ultimately, Saron is looking forward to continuing on her journey as a global advocate during her work as part of the national youth council.
Youth Political Advocacy Workshop Facilitator: Sophia Niles (She/Her)
Project Manager, World Vision Canada Youth Council
My name is Sophia Niles and I am a third year Biological Sciences student at York University. I have a passion for serving underrepresented communities, spreading awareness about mental health and promoting child well-being. I also love cooking, thriller movies, music, traveling, and spending time with my family. I speak fluent English and Tamil. My parents are from Sri Lanka. I am the first person in my family to pursue a post-secondary education. I take my commitment to my education very seriously as many of my relatives did not have access to the opportunities and resources I have been blessed with throughout my life. Last summer, I got a chance to work with Highland Shores CAS to combat the stigma surrounding child welfare organizations and highlight the importance of promoting child and youth health, safety, and happiness. This summer, I worked closely with a research team at McMaster, promoting “carer-friendly” workplace practices. I look forward to meeting everyone!
Youth Political Advocacy Workshop Facilitator: Marianne Joy (She/Her)
Advocacy Content Creator, World Vision Canada Youth Council
In 2019, Marianne completed her undergraduate degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and pursued Master of Arts in Political Science at De La Salle University in the Philippines. From these two degrees she had the privilege of learning from esteemed ambassadors, consultants, and experts in Diplomacy, Governance, International Relations, and International Political Economy where her passion for social justice is cultivated.
The World Vision Canada Youth Council is a group of youth advocates from across the country whose mission is to mobilize Canadian youth to engage with decision-makers to amplify Canada’s role in international development. Their vision is a future in which Canadian youth are active participants in politics and decision-making processes within international development. The council works to connect passionate youth to our federal government by means of engaging with Members of Parliament, Senators and Cabinet Ministers, raising awareness for campaigns, and educating and empowering youth to make a difference.
Oscar Rolando Norato
Guatemala
Oscar (27) is a social activist, human rights defender, and entrepreneur who graduated from public accounting and auditing. He is the deputy director of the Latin American Global Youth Alliance Network with World Vision, the Director of a Youth Change Innovation Network, and a member of the youth voices network in Guatemala. Due to the corruption in his country, there is a lot of vulnerability such as malnutrition, lack of opportunities for young people, and loss of natural resources due to foreign companies’ operations. Oscar is motivated to carry out social actions to contribute to building solutions for these global to local challenges.
Monika
Bangladesh
Monika was a sponsored child when she was 4 years old (sponsored through the Canadian office), and her leadership career started when she was 9. Currently at 19, she is studying computer science & engineering at university. Monika is a National level young leader from Bangladesh and a Child & Youth Advisory Council secretary. This young leader has been strongly advocating for children’s rights, especially for the Right to participate in society. She is part of the “Amplifying Children’s Voices Digitally group where she has shown a remarkable performance, creating content such as girls’ access to education. She participates at World Vision UK Youth Advocacy Network as a representative of Bangladesh Youth.
Monika has been involved in many campaigns such as the 1000 girls campaign and feels proud because she has stopped 12 child marriages. In addition, she participated in a campaign where 2 to 3 girls were aware of menstrual hygiene.
Besides Preventing Child Marriage, she has a keen interest in young people’s leadership, Child Participation, and Rights. Monika likes knowing how other children and young people from other countries live their rights.
Mohamed Zombo
Sierra Leone
Mohamed, a 16-year-old boy child activist, is a beacon of leadership in the Kids Club at Sumbuya community, Bo district, Sierra Leone. His active involvement and dedication are evident as he champions Kids’ Club activities in communities, engaging with stakeholders on issues that affect children. His leadership extends beyond the local level, as he has participated in national and district-level campaigns, including the Children’s Conference on Child Rights Act and the Sierra Leone Medium Term Development Plan review.
Mohamed’s impact is felt in multiple national campaigns and events at the local and national levels. His active participation in the World Children’s Day Conference, radio engagements on prevention and response to VAC, community-based action for ending FGM, hygiene and sanitation activities, and campaign to prevent malaria have significantly contributed to these initiatives.
MUSE Arts is an artist-run, community arts organization focused on creating spaces and engaging communities meaningfully and actively in hands-on, high-quality arts education integrated to issues of social justice. Our organization supports emerging artists from equity-seeking groups to showcase their work and access opportunities for professional development.
We aim to:
- Foster and build a connection among artists and other community partners to promote art work and art education that engages communities in issues of Social Justice and Community Development.
- Increase the visibility of newcomer and refugee artists in the artistic scene in Canada.
- Promote international cooperation among artists and engage in cultural and artistic knowledge and skill exchanges. Engage artists in local, national, and international opportunities that promote professional development in their individual practices and in community-engaged arts.
MUSE Arts (a.k.a. Sick Muse Art Projects) is run by refugee, immigrant, and newcomer artists. Through the ARTS, we build and inspire the communities we envision.
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