Profiles of Young Global Citizens
This collection showcases a selection of Manitobans who are demonstrating their commitment to global citizenship and doing what they can to build a better world. There are many more Manitobans with stories like these. Perhaps you are one, and if not, you could be—there is always room for more.
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Divine Masabarakiza
Divine (22) from Winnipeg, Manitoba, volunteers for the Canadian Red Cross Society, MCIC member agency. Originally from Burundi, Divine is Making a Difference by raising awareness among Manitoba youth about the devastation that Malaria causes in our world. Her work raises money for bednets to be sent overseas through planned fundraising activities in the province. Divine is motivated to work with young people as she believes that youth demonstrate an energy and inspiration that is so essential to create a great impact in the developing world.
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Carly Welham
Carly (17) from Gimli, Manitoba, is a high school student from Gimli, Manitoba. She is Making a Difference by promoting youth voice through the MB 4 Youth Advisory Council as well as working to ensure that young Manitobans’ opinions are represented in local government. Carly founded the ‘Trick or Eat’ campaign in Gimli, encouraging youth in her area to collect cans for food banks on Halloween. The initiative has proven very popular and grown in subsequent years. She proves that even students in high school can involve themselves in their community and work to Make a Difference in our world.
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Tyler Morden
Tyler (23) from Morden, Manitoba, works for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba. He is Making a Difference by helping new immigrants integrate into Canadian society, from learning the official languages, to finding a place to live and getting a job. Tyler believes that this Makes a Difference to the whole community, as these people bring with them so much valuable experience and skills. He took his passion overseas working for a WUSC program rehabilitating child soldiers in Sri Lanka. As with all of his development work, Tyler argues that the people whom he helps make as much a difference in his life as he does in theirs.
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Ainsley Frederickson
Ainsley (28) from Stonewall, Manitoba, teaches High School students at Warren Collegiate in Warren, Manitoba. Ainsley is Making a Difference by educating her students on Fair Trade and by working with those students to encourage the school board to take up Fair Trade initiatives. Her students then go on make a difference by buying Fair Trade products and getting their friends and family to do the same. Ainsley’s students exhibit an energy and hunger for change that we must nourish in our youth, if we are to see lasting and sustainable change.
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Nick Reid
Nick (17) from Clandeboye, Manitoba, works for his father company Green Bean Coffee Imports which is a certified Fair Trade coffee roaster. Nick is Making a Difference by using the company as a platform to promote Fair Trade to Manitobans as a equitable system of production and trade, whereby producers are paid a fair price. He travels throughout the province to spread the word and believes that many more young Manitobans are creating change than we would think. Nick was one of six students who came together to write the song ‘Get Up!’, which encourages all young people to Get Inspired to make a difference, in any way they can.
Watch a video profile of Nick; watch the Get Up! music video.
