You are a MINT student specialising in the “Conflict, Peace, and Security” (CPS) track, Co-President of the Peacebuilding Initiative and part of the Junior Diplomats’ Initiative — how did your experiences and interests lead to your dedication to peacebuilding?
I’ve always been dedicated to community-building and connecting with others through engaging in projects which focus on empowering and uplifting individuals. This commitment began for me by participating in Girl Guides of Canada and learning about the power in collective action for community-level change, both through volunteering at food banks, fundraising for underprivileged youth, and receiving crucial mentorship which shaped me into a strong leader. At McGill University, I involved myself in student initiatives, volunteering to teach school-aged children in Montreal on the Sustainable Development Goals, published articles on human rights-related issues, and worked to advocate for student mental health.
A transformative experience for me was working at McGill’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives, implementing Canada's Truth and Reconciliation strategy to decolonise university-level education and minimise the gap in opportunities available for Indigenous students and employees. Importantly, I am motivated to actualise peace through inclusive conflict resolution to equip current and future leaders with the realisation of human rights for long-term security. In particular, I am drawn to the field of mediation, and working directly with opposing parties in active or ongoing conflict to achieve innovative strategies for peace. My privilege of growing up in Canada has made me particularly cognizant of the inequality of rights fulfillment globally, and I am determined to make a positive impact on communities affected by colonisation, war, and insecurity.
The "Inspiring Peacemakers Series" seeks to connect youth interested in peacebuilding to career professionals, and the next event “Is 2025 the end for a nonprofit & social impact career?” will address the hopes for making a difference in an increasingly fragmented and divisive international environment. In your experience, what is it like to be starting out in the field in 2025 and what do you think are the important things to keep in mind for young peacemakers like yourself?
Currently, the humanitarian and international sphere faces high levels of fragmentation– financially, and multilaterally. I see both a window of opportunity– for youth to meaningfully engage at the community and international level– but also one that appears daunting for those aiming to make long lasting change. In the first quarter of 2025, humanitarians and young peacemakers have already witnessed transformations to the international sector which will undoubtedly have significant impacts on armed conflict, human resources, and political alliance-building on contentious topics.
In light of this, youth today must remember the recent challenges that we’ve collectively overcome: a global pandemic, a rise in youth-led social activism movements, and the continuous fight to implement the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda into international policy instruments. We have new tools, including social media which can mobilise greater audiences, a greater access to data to inform ourselves, and are paving the way for future generations to see themselves as young people represented at the decision-making level. It can also be helpful to bear in mind that change is not made overnight; every sustained small action for peace provides a butterfly effect for harmonious global stability.
The event will feature peace-activist Sarah Noble and behavioral scientist Tania Tam. Tell us about the event, and what are you hoping to learn?
Both Sarah Noble and Dr. Tania Tam bring years of experience working in the humanitarian and social impact fields, holding key insights into the dynamisms of working in a human and developed-focused field. In partnership with the Nagulendran Philanthropy Alliance and Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, we are deeply honoured to be commencing this semester’s first Inspiring Peacemaker Series with such a salient, and relevant topic. This series is particularly special, because it demonstrates the commitment to building opportunities for youth to see themselves as pivotal changemakers, and also provides a source of inspiration for the turbulent times ahead.
Like myself, I believe that many students and young people today have many questions regarding the future of global humanitarian assistance, and how to best equip ourselves with the crucial skills to be resilient and successful in this field. I look forward to learning more about their career development, what spaces they forecast might have greater opportunities for global engagement in the upcoming years, and how youth can best organise given the multiplicity of openings for international engagement.
What, to you, is the way to peace?
To me, I deeply believe in the catalytic nature of education in peacebuilding; education fosters understanding, critical thinking about global issues, and cultivates empathy amongst communities. When young leaders and individuals internationally are empowered with knowledge, they are equipped with the necessary tools to build bridges across communities and seek long lasting peace strategies from the ground level up. This mandates community-level and localised policy development, both in educational opportunity and organisations aiming to include and empower those living in precarious situations. It also calls to renew the international commitment towards achieving the SDGs, and recalls declarations and conventions which were developed in light of preventing the gravest crimes known to humankind. If peace is under attack anywhere, may it serve as a call to action as an attack on international peace globally.
