OCIC Human Library on Sustainable Development

Group of youth with SDG sign

Join OCIC’s 2018 Global Changemakers for an immersive evening filled with dynamic discussions on Sustainable Development. The Human Library for Sustainable Development will offer a collection of sector experts, organizations and institutions engaged in the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Guest speakers include OCIC’s Global Changemakers, Casa Pueblito, comdu.it, Engineers Without Borders, Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, The Centre for Critical Development Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and more!

Never heard of a Human Library?

The Human Library was developed in Copenhagen in the Spring of 2000 as a way to provide a positive space for conversations that challenge inequality, discrimination, and stereotypes. It is a place where readers can borrow real people and learn from their experiences and stories.

When: Thursday, April 26, 2018 6:00PM – 8:00PM EST

Where: Music Room, Hart House 7 Hart House Circle Toronto, ON M5S 3H3

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Speakers

1 No Poverty

Tina mbachu is a  passionate professional with interest and experience in gender and economic empowerment. With a Bachelors and Masters in international development, Tina has worked with organizations in Canada and abroad with the most recent experience being in Swaziland, where she led a cooperative development project, organizing 12 women producer groups for micr savings and income generating activities.”

3 Good Health and Well-being

Victor Banda is a Data Analyst for Dignitas International in Malawi. Victor is passionate about data science and its applications in Health. His interests lie in generating insights out of raw data sets of varying magnitude. Victor is fascinated with data visualizations, manipulations, modelling and machine learning and is comfortable dealing with data across an array of formats. He constantly seeks new ventures that further his skill sets in these domains.

Victor’s professional practice focuses on medical research data management and health informatics, supporting research and medical programs in the fields of HIV, TB and Non-Communicable Diseases. On a daily basis, Victor develops data collection systems, completes data cleaning and extraction for analysis and develops apps for program implementation.

4 Quality Education

Katie Boomgardt (UTSC) After having completed the early years of her career delivering experiential learning and outdoor education, Katie coordinated the Trent-in-Ghana Program for Trent University for three years.  Based in Ghana, Katie would assist students in navigating their year abroad at the University of Ghana (Legon). After a year-long sabbatical spent in Nigeria and Gabon, Katie returned to Canada and began her role at the University of Toronto Scarborough.  Katie has been running the International Development Studies Co-op Program for 10 years at UTSC. Katie holds a BA in Comparative Development Studies from Trent University a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development with a Collaborative Program in Comparative, International and Development Education.  

5 Gender Equality

Dr. Haroon Akram-Lodhi (Trent) Professor of economics and international development studies Haroon Akram-Lodhi teaches agrarian political economy. He is Professor of Economics and International Development Studies in the Department of International Development Studies at Trent University, Peterborough, Canada. Haroon Akram-Lodhi is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Development Studies and an Associate Editor of Feminist Economics.

Trained as an economist, the focus of Haroon Akram-Lodhi’s research interest is in the political economy of agrarian change in developing countries, on the economic dimensions of gender relations, and on the political ecology of sustainable rural livelihoods and communities in contemporary poor countries. Haroon Akram-Lodhi has lived, taught, and conducted research in numerous countries, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and has undertaken advisory services for a wide variety of multilateral, bilateral and non-governmental international development organizations.

8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Schnella Pinto holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Industrial Relations. Subsequent to completing her Master’s degree, she interned and consulted for the Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining Unit at the International Labour Organization(ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. While at the ILO, Schenella sat on the Intern Board ensuring that the welfare of interns were being upheld. Schenella’s passion for defending workers’ rights can be further exemplified by the work she has done as the former Director of Research and Labour Policy with the Canadian Intern Association. Schenella is currently working as a Workplace Advisor for AMAPCEO, a trade union that represents crown employees in Ontario.

11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Sadia Butt is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, Canada. She has worked in urban forestry for the last 20 years as a practitioner, researcher and a volunteer in raising urban forest awareness through environmental education. She enjoys promoting forestry and environment education to all ages and is a lifelong volunteer at ACER, an environmental education group. In April 2013, she was one of three conference coordinators at the Urban Forest and Political Ecologies Conference, at the University of Toronto that brought together innovative researchers, artists and practitioners to share their work. She is also a co- editor of the book, Urban Forests, Trees and Greenspaces: A Political Ecology Approach.

12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Elizabeth Teo is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. She is currently majoring in Environmental studies and physical and environmental geography. Outside of school,  Elizabeth is a passionate environmentalists and focuses her time on spreading awareness about the zerowaste movement. She is part of the  zerowaste community and uses the platform to share her story as a zerowaster. Elizabeth is also the co-host of The Zero Waste Conversation Podcast. She hopes to bring more awareness and educations to the public regarding the global waste issue, as well as solutions on reducing it for a better future.

13 Climate action

Hamsha Pathmanathan is a multidisciplinary graduate from the University of Waterloo, and is also the Partnerships Co-Lead for comdu.it, based in Toronto.She has collaborated and worked with local farmers on food security issues in Cross River State, Nigeria and Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka.

Hamsha is passionate about sustainable development, building climate-resilient agricultural models, achieving global food security, and conserving our environment. She is a strong advocate of supporting community-driven solutions to local problems. She believes that aid comes from within, and empowering communities to initiate their own successes is the first step towards a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future.

14 Life below Water

Lisa Erdle is a PhD student in the Rochman Lab at UofT and researches the effects of microplastics in wildlife. In her work, Lisa collaborates with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to better understand how microfibers – one of the most common types of microplastics – impacts aquatic invertebrates and fish through physical and chemical processes.

15 Life on Land

Sabrina Lau, Roots and Shoots- Jane Goodall Institute of Canada is recent graduate of the University of Toronto and has a multidisciplinary background in environmental studies, environmental biology, and history. She is committed to sustainable development initiatives locally and globally. Through her work with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, she has raised awareness about sustainability issues through her No Waste November campaign, and encouraged youth to get involved in hands-on projects in their communities through the Roots & Shoots program.

16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institution

David Peck (SoChange) is the founder of SoChange, a social enterprise that works with the corporate and NGO community in leadership development, innovation and entrepreneurship. David has spoken for such companies and NGO’s as UNICEF, Royal Bank of Canada, Make Poverty History, IBM, World Vision, York University, Campbell Soup Company, Maravino Visual and Bayer. He has consulted for leadership, MNCH, education, health and literacy projects in Ontario, El Salvador, Rwanda, Kenya, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Mongolia.

He created the Mosquitoes Suck Tour – a global youth initiative that entertains, educates and advocates for the eradication of malaria. He is founder of yChange, a social justice conference that has been held in Toronto, Vancouver and Hong Kong. David hosts a podcast called Face2Face and a blog called Splash and rabble.caRipple on Rabble.ca and writes for a variety of other publications. With a Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of Guelph, David has also completed postgraduate work in International Development and teaches in the business school at Humber College in Toronto.

17 Partnerships for the Goals

Fana Mekonen is the founder of Enheed, an organization that facilitates programs for youth in the Ethiopian diaspora to travel to Ethiopia to reconnect with their roots. She is passionate about diaspora engagement and works to promote collaboration and cooperation between youth in Africa and abroad. With Enheed, African youth in the diaspora travel to their country of origin to engage in experiential learning while gaining first-hand knowledge of their roots. They tackle topics ranging from gender equality, to education and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the development field Fana worked as a legal analyst and conflict resolution officer. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice, Political Science and African Studies. Fana was elected to the OCIC Board of Directors in June 2016 and serves on the Membership and Nominations Committee, and the Finance and Sustainability Committee, and is also a member of the OCIC Diaspora Engagement Networking Group.

 

 

 

About OCIC’s Global Changemaker Program

OCIC’s Global Changemaker Youth Ambassadors Program honours outstanding youth who have demonstrated active engagement with communities and civil society organizations in the promotion of international cooperation and social justice. To learn more about OCIC’s 2018 Global Changemaker Youth Ambassadors visit here.

#GCYA2018 #SDGHumanLibrary #PartnersForABetterWorld

This event is free, and light refreshments will be provided. Register now, as space is limited. While there are no specific registration fees, we invite donations of $10 to $20 dollars to help support our costs. To make a donation, click here.

This venue is wheelchair accessible and LGBTQ positiveQuestions? Contact Eugenia Ochoa at public.engagement@ocic.on.ca.

This initiative is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada