In my first year at U of T, I founded OneChild – a non-profit organization that empowers young people to take action against child sex slavery. At 19, I didn’t know what it took to develop a non-profit, but I learned the ropes as I went along. As the organization grew, it demanded more of my free time. It was a very busy, stressful period. I considered taking a break from U of T to prioritize the development of OneChild.
Bruce Bowden, Trinity College’s registrar at the time, supported me to continue as a student while also growing OneChild. He advocated for me to have extra time to complete essays or write tests. He also wrote a recommendation letter for my entry into graduate school, and another such letter that helped me land my current fellowship at Care, an international development and humanitarian relief agency. I am now based out of its Washington office, where I work on efforts to end child marriage and gender-based violence.
Bruce enabled me to manage my undergraduate career and develop as a social entrepreneur. By sticking with my education, I gained the theoretical knowledge to build my non-profit, and to pursue other youth advocate roles at organizations such as the UN. To have someone at U of T as a champion was so helpful.
As told to Sharon Aschaiek
Recent Posts
U of T’s 197th Birthday Quiz
Test your knowledge of all things U of T in honour of the university’s 197th anniversary on March 15!
Are Cold Plunges Good for You?
Research suggests they are, in three ways
Work Has Changed. So Have the Qualities of Good Leadership
Rapid shifts in everything from technology to employee expectations are pressuring leaders to constantly adapt