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."

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!

BIAAG UOttawa Coffee House

Because I Am A Girl UOttawa is excited to partner with Cafe Alt and present our very first COFFEE HOUSE!
Join us for a night of live musical talent on campus! Minimum $4 donation with all proceeds going to Because I Am A Girl. Coffee, tea and snacks will be available for purchase.

Visit our Facebook page for more details!

                                            BIAAG UOttawa |     Tealee     |     Cafe Alt

UOttawa has a sweet tooth for #genderequality

Because I Am A Girl UOttawa proudly hosted our very first bake sale on Feburary 27th, 2014! It was more than success raising a total of $160.55 and providing educational material about BIAAG, Plan Canada and gender equality issues both here on campus and around the globe.

Jessica Silva #WonderWomenWednesday

Jessica Silva is currently completing her first year in Master of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa.

Jessica has worked as a research assistant for Dr. Angel Foster for the past two years and contributed to Dr. Fosters’ Backline project, which explored the need for pregnancy options, counseling and the effects of secondary transmittance on social change. Backline is a talkline originating out of Portland, Oregon and the funding is at risk of being cut. Currently, Jessica is conducting her thesis on refugee women’s experience with sexual violence and their post-migration needs in Canada.

Jessica has also been an active member of many University of Ottawa organizations. She works as an exam proctor with access services, was a team leader with Alternative Sudent Break and worked as a project officer with the Center for Global and Community Engagement. Jessica supervised an alternative spring break trip to Nicaragua with 12 participants from May 3rd to May 18, 2013. During the trip she acted a liaison between the NGO and her team members in the country.

However, her travels don’t stop there! Jessica was selected amongst 10 others for the International Health Field course placement in Zambia in conjunction with Shared World Initiative NGO in 2011. While in Zambia Jessica conducted needs assessments of several villages surrounding Chazenga compound in Lusaka, Zambia. She worked as a member of a 3-person team to help develop a social enterprise project in collaboration with Lupwa Lwabumi Trust (LLT), a local NGO. This social enterprise involves working with rural female gardeners and their tomato sales. LLT purchases their tomatoes and sells them to another market at the higher price. The project that she and her two teammates worked on resulted in a steady income for the female gardeners as well as  less donor dependency for the NGO.

Jessica was also VP communications of UOHS during her undergrad degree, volunteers with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Holder’s Association and presented at Women’s Health Research Day. She looks forward to continuing her research with women’s health and increasing the opportunities available to women on campus as a member of the Committee on Student Experience at the University of Ottawa.