Youth Advocacy Symposium 2021
Plenary and workshop recordings
Speakers and Presenters
Katleho Khang
Coordinator of Campus Ministry, Mabathoana High School (Maseru, Lesotho)
Katleho Khang SNJM is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She is the Coordinator of the Campus Ministry at ‘Mabathoana High School in Maseru, Lesotho. She worked at the Jesuit Institute South Africa and served on her Congregational Justice and Peace Network as an NGO Liaison. Katleho has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Post Graduate Diploma in Media Management from the Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership at Rhodes University. She has attended United Nations summits, including the Commission on Sustainable Development (2004) and the Commission on Women’s Status (2017). These equipped her with experience in advocacy, planning, implementation and evaluation.
Adarsh Rai
Program Coordinator, Hayden Hall
Adarsh is Hayden Hall's Program Coordinator. He specializes in the fields of education, livelihood and community development. He designs and develops programs that can be upscaled based on the needs and well-being of people and organizations from the grassroots. His work and experience has taken him to the slums of Mumbai, the Tea Gardens of Darjeeling and the Tribal communities of the Himalayan belt. He has worked with farmers of central India, youth in Bangalore and orphans from marginalized communities.
Karen Morales, Ximena Cuellar, Nicoll González, Nayrad Iveth Parra De Alba, Zandy Aguilar, Yesica Bautista and Abiel Urrutia
Jóvenes Generarte
Jóvenes Generarte is a youth movement in Colombia that uses art to express young people's hopes and dreams for their country and inspire others to help build a more just future for all.
Fr Charles Chilufya SJ
Coordinator, Africa Task Force of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission
Fr Charles Chilufya is the coordinator of the Africa Task Force of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission. He is a Jesuit priest who has served as Director of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) Justice and Ecology Office (JEO) since 2018 in Nairobi. JEO coordinates the Jesuits’ work in economic, social, migration, gender and climate justice in Africa. JEO is a vital Jesuit interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and local issues confronting populations in Africa.
Dr Katrina Plamondon
Co-chair, Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research’s University Advisory Council
Dr Katrina Plamondon is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She is a Canadian woman of Cree-Irish-Quebecois ancestry whose research focuses on how to advance evidence-informed equity action. She co-chairs the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research’s University Advisory Council and is a member of Canada’s National Scientific Advisory Committee for Global Health. Dr Plamondon led the development of the equity-centred CCGHR Principles for Global Health Research and continuously contributes to national and international dialogue about Canada’s role in global health, amplifying issues of equity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lasya Grover
St Mary's Catholic Secondary School
Lasya Grover is a hardworking and dedicated senior student at St Mary's Catholic Secondary School. She is very passionate about the unity club, where they face and combat racial inequalities. She strives to engage in serious social justice issues that happen around the worldand within her community, now and in her future career.
Dami Solaja
St Mary's Catholic Secondary School
Dami Solaja is a grade 12 student at St Mary's Catholic Secondary School. She is a retreat leader and a member of the student group unity. She is passionate about helping others and raising awareness for causes that affect the most vulnerable in our community. The initiatives she is involved in allow her to spread her wings and help in any way that she can.
Maraki Zewdu
St Mary's Catholic Secondary School
Maraki Zewdu is a grade 12 student at St Mary's Catholic Secondary School. She is a retreat leader and a member of the student group unity. She is deeply passionate about helping others and being an agent of change. Maraki is always motivated to raise awareness on global and local issues that affect people. She is hardworking and doesn't shy away from speaking up on the inequalities which are happening today.
Heriberta Fernández Liriano
Development Coordinator, Centro Montalvo
Heriberta is the Development Coordinator for Centro Montalvo in the Dominican Republic (DR) in the Caribbean.
Victor Reyes
Communications Coordinator, Canadian Jesuits International
Victor Reyes is the Communications Coordinator of Canadian Jesuits International (CJI). He represents CJI on the Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability (CNCA) and is involved in CNCA’s advocacy campaign for the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE). He is also involved with an international solidarity campaign to free Fr Stan Swamy SJ, a Jesuit priest in India who has been unjustly incarcerated. He has over 20 years' experience in the non-profit sector, working as an educator, facilitator and communications specialist. Victor holds an MES in Environmental Engineering from the University of Melbourne.
Fr Jacques Nzumbu SJ
Jesuit Central African Province
Jacques Nzumbu is a Jesuit and is a specialist in conflict minerals, responsible mineral supply chain due diligence, corporate social responsibility of mining companies, artisanal mining and strategic minerals and energy transition. His expertise extends to renewable energy technology, especially in the areas of energy storage and transition technologies. He is completing a PhD in energy and mining public policy at UQAM (Montreal) with a focus on strategic minerals and energy transition. He holds several Master's degrees: in governance and public policy of natural resources; in international affairs: economics, politics and business law; and in Ignatian leadership.
Fr Jean Francky Guerrier SJ
Jesuit Province of Canada and Haiti
Fr Jean Francky Guerrier, SJ is a Haitian Jesuit, member of the Province of Canada and Haiti. He has a bachelor’s in Philosophy and Humanities and recently completed the Master of Divinity program at Regis College/University of Toronto before being ordained to the priesthood in June 2021 in Port-au-Prince. As an expert in communication, Fr Francky is currently hosting the podcast “Talking with Francky” via Salt and Light Media Toronto. He Served as the communication and advocacy officer and project coordinator at the Jesuit Migrant Service in Haiti, providing humanitarian assistance to urban refugees and asylum seekers in Port-au-Prince.
Fr Ismael Moreno SJ (Fr Melo)
Director, Radio Progreso-ERIC (Honduras)
Fr Ismael Moreno SJ (Fr Melo) is director of Fundacion Eric and Radio Progreso in Honduras.
Nolunthando Honono
Postgraduate law student, South Africa
Noluthando Honono is a postgraduate law student, debater and debate coach from South Africa. She has developed a keen interest in economic and political frameworks used by different African countries and how these affect the decision making of ordinary citizens within these states.
Racheal Angok
Registered Nurse, South Sudan
Racheal is from South Sudan. She graduated from the National Institute of Health Sciences in Jonnglei in 2017 with a Diploma in Nursing and Community Health. She is a registered nurse and works for Aspen Medical International Expeditionary Healthcare LLC clinic (AMI) in Juba. Racheal enjoys the nursing profession as it gives her opportunities to interact with people and provide them with the love and care they need. She is driven to serve others and contribute to society. Racheal also writes articles to educate other young women on the importance of education and growing to become independent.
Norbert Piché
Country Director, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Canada
Norbert Piché is the Country Director for JRS-Canada since August 2015. Norbert has extensive experience in the refugee/immigration field. He worked for 15 years at the Centre francophone de Toronto as a Settlement Counselor and later as the Coordinator of Settlement Services. Previous to that, he spent 4 years at Romero House, a welcome centre for refugee claimants in Toronto, the first two as a Jesuit Volunteer and the last two as Assistant to the Director. Norbert has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba.
Karla Rivas
Coordinator, Jesuit Migrant Network for Central America
Karla Rivas is the Coordinator of the Jesuit Migrant Network for Central America. She is a journalist and was the Coordinator of the press department of Radio Progreso from 2002 to 2012. She has also worked as a facilitator for radio training and social analysis processes as well as researcher in the area of human rights for Radio Progreso-ERIC (Reflection, Investigation and Communications Team).
Fr John McCarthy SJ
Ecology Facilitator, Jesuits of Canada
Fr John McCarthy SJ works on the biodiversity of Newfoundland and Labrador lichens at the Department of Biology Herbarium, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario. He is also the Ecology Facilitator for the Jesuits of Canada. He holds advanced degrees in Theology, a PhD in Boreal Forest Ecology and a Masters in Soil Science. He was the recipient of the 2002 Canadian Environment Awards Gold Medal (Lands and Forests category) for his work in boreal forest conservation in Newfoundland. He is a lichen specialist who has named several species of lichen and has one, Acarospora maccarthyi, named in his honour. Fr John has a vision for a deeper understanding of an integral ecological approach to Canada’s Boreal Forest region.
Elizabeth Penashue
Indigenous rights activist and Innu Elder
Tshaukuesh Elizabeth Penashue, an Innu elder from Sheshatshiu in the boreal forests of eastern Labrador, is an inspiration. She is an Indigenous rights activist, author, environmentalist, mother, teacher. Her decades-long witness to the care of family, community, and the boreal forest of her homelands is touchingly revealed in the recent 2019 publication of her diaries appropriately entitled Nitinikiau Innusi: I Speak for the Land. She has earned many accolades over the years, including an honourary doctorate from Memorial University and a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. Elizabeth is deeply concerned about the well being of the land and what state it will be in for future generations.
Niigaan Sinclair
Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair is an Anishinaabe academic and writer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Originally from Selkirk, Manitoba. Niigaan did his undergraduate studies at the University of Winnipeg, an MA at the University of Oklahoma, and a PhD at the University of British Columbia. He is Head of the Department of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba and an activist and public speaker on Indigenous issues.
Brex Arevalo
Advocate for participatory climate action and integral ecology, Ecojesuit
Brex Arevalo is an advocate for participatory climate action and integral ecology. In 2019, he participated in the first-ever UN Youth Climate Summit as the Green Ticket recipient for the Philippines. He works with Ecojesuit in forwarding a global commitment for climate justice among Jesuits and collaborators.
Anitalia Pijachi
Uitota community leader
Anitalia is a Uitota community leader in the Amazon Region of Colombia and is a strong advocate for Indigenous and ecological justice. She actively participated in the Amazon Synod, hosted in the Vatican in Fall of 2019. Anitalia will speak on the importance of Integral ecology, solidarity and the challenges faced by Indigenous people during COVID-19.
Alex Neufeldt
Entrepreneur
Alex Neufeldt is one of seven young people taking the Ford government to court for weakening Ontario’s 2030 climate target. As a young entrepreneur, Alex is concerned about the uncertainty climate change creates for her small business. When record-breaking flooding slammed Ottawa in the spring of 2019, it threatened Alex’s business. This led her to be part of the lawsuit brought against the Ontario Government.
Dr Christopher Adams
Rector, St Paul's College
Christopher Adams is an Adjunct Professor in Political Studies at the University of Manitoba and the Rector of St. Paul’s College, a Jesuit-endorsed college. He holds a PhD from Carleton University, worked in the polling industry for 20 years, and has published on topics relating to interest groups and advocacy.
EXHIBIT BOOTHS
- RESOURCE 1 – Delhi report – Helping the vulnerable
- RESOURCE 2 – Maharashtra report- Helping the distress
- RESOURCE 3 – Kerala report – Reaching out to interstate migrants
- RESOURCE 4 – UN Declaration of Indigenous rights
- RESOURCE 5 – Interpreting the UN declaration
- Advocacy Ask – COVID-19 JUSTICE
- Advocacy Meeting Planner
- Meeting with your MP – Step-by-step guide
- RESOURCE 1 – Executive Summary – Corporate respect for Human Rights and the Environment Act-CNCA
- RESOURCE 2 – The Corporate respect for Human rights Act- CNCA
- RESOURCE 3 – Mining, Colonial Legacies, and Neoliberalism
- RESOURCE 4 – Protecting your community from Mining industries
- RESOURCE 5 – Workbook (Justice in Mining Network)
- Activity Instructions
- Activity – How a bill becomes a law
- Advocacy Ask – CSR + ECO
- Advocacy Meeting Planner
- Meeting with your MP – Step-by-step guide
OUR SPONSORS
Canadian Jesuits International
70 Saint Mary St
Toronto, ON
M5S 1J3
Canada
Tel: 416.465.1824
Toll Free (Canada and USA): 1.800.448.2148
Email: cji@jesuits.ca