Annalise Mathers #WonderWomanWednesday

                Hi! I’m Annalise Mathers, and I am finishing my fourth year in Biomedical Science. I’m from Stouffville, Ontario, which is a small town north of Toronto and living in Ottawa for the past 4 years has really opened my eyes to our global our world really is. In my years here, I’ve had the opportunity to work and/or volunteer with many organizations on campus and in the city. I love global health, culture, travel, the gym and meeting new people. I’ve also been able to go to Peru and Tanzania through university programs, and these experiences (along with all the amazing friends I have made!) were definitely the highlight of my university life! In both Peru and Tanzania I was hugely aware of the issues women face in their daily living. Advocating for women’s access to healthcare is something I believe strongly in, and I had the opportunity in Peru to work alongside an obstetrician for maternal care that was sorely lacking in rural communities. In Tanzania, I helped African Wildlife and People in a project that involved building a boma (kind of like a corral) for the livestock belonging to the indigenous tribe the Maasai. The fence I helped to build was for a widow’s family consisting of about 20 or 30 people (her sons and daughters, and their spouses and children). This widow’s goats had been attacked by hyenas, and this boma was really essential to ensuring that the woman, her family, and their livestock could continue to survive. In the future, once I graduate, I want to continue to help individuals and communities like these to ensure that women – and all people! – have access to essential life needs.

             The women’s issue that I feel most strongly about is women’s rights – especially with respect to street harassment. I watched a documentary about street harassment during the summer, and it really connected with me. After being here for a month last summer and personally experiencing some form of street harassment or unwanted comments/attention quite regularly, I realized how ridiculous it is that as a woman I have to be 100x more conscientious about simple things like going outside and what I am wearing. It’s a barrier to developing personal self-respect, feeling secure, and being comfortable in one’s own skin. I’m not sure how, but I would love to get involved in a project that works on breaking down these barriers and making every girl feel safe and fabulous everywhere, every time.  Yet at the same time I love being a girl. I played every sport under the sun growing up, and I can attest to how much girls can take pride in being fit, both physically and mentally to make strides in their personal and professional life. I definitely recommend everyone to find some kind of physical activity that makes them feel great. Finally, I think that everyone’s confidence comes from within. It sounds cliché, but when you do what you love, and take the time to devote to yourself, that’s when you find inner happiness. Girls are the future. We have the power to do what we want and achieve anything. The time is now to be bold and beautiful!

Nicolette Addesa #WonderWomanWednesday

 Being from Toronto, I didn’t know many people in this new city. This encouraged me to join clubs on campus to get to meet new people. I volunteered here and there until I found a few clubs on campus that I found a passion for.

As an elected Director, representing the Faculty of Arts, as the assistant to the liaison and special projects officer of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Arts, as head of marketing and events for Her Campus and, as president of Equal Voice uOttawa Chapter, I have had several opportunities to consolidate my service leadership skills on many levels.

Being an elected Director on both the Board of Administrators and the Faculty council, representing 7 000 students, I demonstrated integrity by upholding and respecting the diverse needs of each unique department. I was the voice that respectfully shared concerns and possible rational and achievable solutions, to the Dean and the chairs of the Faculty. This role also demanded that I recognize and uphold policies and procedures and ensure confidentiality in many of the items discussed.

As the assistant to the liaison and special projects officer of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of  Arts for the past 3 years, I was immersed in the multicultural fabric of our city.  Serving and working with students with language barriers, physical challenges, or who may have had dispositions that may be deemed challenging, it became my goal to provide and guarantee a warm and supportive environment to ensure a positive experience under any circumstance. Service leadership was at the core of my role, and in fact I received many acknowledgements in  writing, which led me to receive the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Faculty at various university fairs around the province (Ontario University Fair in Toronto, Applicants fair in the Greater Toronto Area etc.)

As head of Marketing and Events of Her Campus uOttawa chapter, I exemplified both personal and professional integrity by mobilizing volunteers, organizing and executing fundraisers, to raise money for the Lupus Foundation. That year, my teams’ fundraising efforts collected over $6500. My passion for community outreach began when I turned my sweet 16 into a fundraiser for the Children’s Wish Foundation and donated the money to grant another 16 year old their wish.

I found the position of president for Equal Voice uOttawa chapter most fulfilling as it empowers woman politically and that is where my passion surfaces; serving others in a socio-political arena.  My role called upon skills such as collaboration, being open minded, a team player, a forward planner, well organized and approachable.  These qualities allowed me to create a respectful climate for my volunteers where people’s integrity was honoured and the ability to authentically serve the cause was upheld.

Most of the positions mentioned above were elected positions. My advice would be no matter what year you are in, no matter how much experience you think you might lack, apply anyways! To quote former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. If you get the position, great, if not, you will be equipped with the lessons learned for the next time.

We have all heard the famous quote by Babe Ruth “never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Why? Because you are a girl! 

Thank you to everyone who came and participated in our #BrighterFurture wall on February 9th! Keep your eye out for more pictures coming soon, as well as for information on our next event!

Interested in joining Because I Am A Girl UOttawa? Come to our open meeting on February 24th at 7pm in LMX 106 or email us at becauseiamagirluottawa@gmail.com. You can join the movement to make a brighter future for girls at: http://becauseiamagirl.ca/brighterfuture

BIAAG UOttawa Pub Night Fundraiser Jan. 23rd

Dress To Impress Pub Night Fundraiser 

Because I Am A Girl - UOttawa is proud of present our "Dress to Impress" fundraising pub night. All proceeds will be going to Plan Canada.

Facebook event page: BecauseIAmAGirlUOttawaDressToImpress

Samah Syed #WonderWomenWednesday

Samah Syed, 21 years old and a student of the University of Ottawa has recently attended the 2014 International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championships, which, were hosted in Rome, Italy from July 23 to 27. The ITF World Championships happen very two years and this year; over 500 competitors came from 32 different countries to compete. The Canadian Delegation consisted of 40 athletes and 40 supporters and brought home 90 medals in total. Samah Syed, a Canadian-Pakistani has been doing Taekwon-Do for 17 years and still continuing, participated in the ITF World Championships for the second time. She is a third degree blackbelt and brought back 4 medals from this years championship in the following categories: Bronze in Individual Patterns, Bronze in Team Patterns, Bronze in Team Sparring and Bronze in Special Technique. Over the course of two years, Samah attended several competitions and ranked to be part of the Canadian delegation.
"Competing for the second time at the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships, the feeling was surreal. It was a huge accomplishment for something I have been working on for approximately two years. The first time I competed back in 2007, I was a junior and brought back 2 silvers and 1 bronze for all team events. However, this time around was my first time winning an individual medal, which was amazing. I felt that all of the hard work I have been putting in for so many years have finally shown through my first bronze medal in Individual Patterns. I also received 3 bronze medals in Team Patterns, Sparring and Special Technique.

My experience as a young female athlete in sports is that not to feel underestimated by men. Just because men are doing it, so can women and if you are passionate and willing to do something, go ahead and do it. You never know what you can accomplish and succeed unless you try. Many people are afraid to try new things but you'll never know what you really like until you give a try. I would say is that try new things, don't give up and even if you're really passionate about anything in life, keep working hard because one day you'll succeed and feel astonished about what you have done."

Lisa Banville #WonderWomenWednesday

Lisa Banville is an entrepreneur in the Ottawa area who attended Ottawa U and Algonquin college. She began her education route at Algonquin college in Pembroke, starting with a general business diploma. The two year program was a largely male program, but with Lisa’s mother and father (business owners) as guidance and inspiration, she completed the program and made the Dean’s list. Once completing the program she decided to attempt to follow up with an undergrad at Ottawa U in Business with a specialization in accounting.

This is where she joined the Sigma Psi Alpha sorority, where she began to network with a group of strong, passionate, goal-oriented women who only inspired her further. At one of her first sorority events, the group of girls went to a loose leaf tea house, and Lisa’s love for loose leaf tea was born. What started as a small collection quickly grew into cupboards filled with different teas from around the world.

After 2 years at Ottawa U, Lisa decided that she had enough of university. Enjoying Human Resources more than accounting, she enrolled back at Algonquin College for a 3 year Human Resources program. Once completing the program (and again making the Dean’s list), she decided it was time to follow in her parent’s footsteps and open her own business.

Using Shopify (An online platform for building ecommerce websites), she built www.tealee.ca, where she sells loose leaf tea and shares her love of tea with friends, family, and strangers. Finding that online sales weren’t as enjoyable as face-to-face interactions, Lisa decided to start attending farmer’s markets in the Ottawa area. She begun with the Ottawa U farmer’s market (which starts again in September) and loved it so much, she decided to bring Tealee to the Main street market every Saturday between May and October.

Never getting enough of tea, Lisa began taking the Tea Sommelier program at Algonquin College, which educates students on tea types, the process of blending, preparing, and drinking tea, as well as pairing tea with food, creating menus, and the history of tea. Once completed, the program will give Lisa the opportunity to take a Tea Sommelier Certification exam.

While running a business, furthering her education, and working a secondary job, Lisa has volunteered her time to assist with the Ottawa Tea Festival, planning a children’s tea party to raise money for the Candlelighters, an Ontario based charity that provides assistances to families whose children have been diagnosed with Cancer.

In the future, Lisa and her boyfriend hope to open a physical location in the Ottawa region. A lounge style shop where patrons can enjoy loose leaf tea while socializing, working, completing school assignments, or just relaxing with a warm(or cold) cup of the world’s most popular drink.

BIAAG Coffee House!

 Thank you to everyone that came out and supported the BIAAG- Coffee House on March 13th. A night of entertainment and treats we were able to raise a total of $293.15 for Because I Am A Girl and look forward to putting it towards our goal; a scholarship to fund a young girl's future education. We'd like to send a special thank you to our musicians for your amazing performances and beautiful talent, and all of those who donated!