Global Changemakers

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I became a Global Changemaker on the 6th of June 2009, after completing the African Youth Summit at Cape Town, South Africa. Thereafter I have been actively involved in initiating community service projects centered around Environmental Sustainability and Education. Before graduating from a two-year course at the African Leaderhip Academy in Johannesburg, five of my friends and I created an organic garden at the Swartkop Valley school--a school established for vulnerable and orphaned children between ages 7-16. Today, our garden provides lunch and take-home food for over 200 of those kids. Presently I'm studying Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Rochester, where I am presently serving as an EcoRep. EcoReps are leaders who educate students about proper recycling and energy saving procedures on campus. Service to my immediate sourounding is something I am pasionate about, and I'll always look forward to the opportunity to serve everywhere I go.

Amanda Achtman (Canadian) attended the Global Changemakers Youth Summit in London from November 15-21st. During her high school years, her key areas of activism included: Interfaith Dialogue, Political Engagement, and Education. She was a member of the Interfaith Dialogue, Education, and Action (IDEA) Youth Council, a council comprised of young leaders from six different faith traditions that put collective values into action through service projects. Amanda coordinated the Student Vote initiative in her high school which gave students too young to vote, the opportunity to learn about democracy and the political process through a federal election simulation. In her province, Amanda was selected to sit on the Minister of Education's Student Advisory Council and make recommendations on the future of the education system. Amanda has attended the Forum for Young Canadians, Encounters with Canada, Forum for Young Albertans, Seminar on the United Nations and International Affairs, and MLA for A Day Programs. Since attending the Global Changemakers Summit, Amanda has participated in the March of Remembrance and Hope, a ten-day holocaust study trip to Germany and Poland. She makes presentations to students about this experience and you can view a video testimony about her trip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w_-7n48iWE In August 2010, Amanda travelled to the Philippines as a youth representative of the Canadian NGO Development and Peace on a Solidarity Trip. She had the opportunity to live with urban and rural poor families. Amanda learned about issues ranging from organic farming to foreign mining. In November 2010, Amanda participated in the MY Canada delegation to Ottawa, Canada’s capital. There she met with dozens of Members of Parliament including the Prime Minister. Some advocacy issues included: clean water for First Nations reserves, suicide prevention, and human trafficking legislation. In March 2011, Amanda participated in the Pax Romana United Nations Study Session in New York. The theme for this conference was women empowerment. The conference included a tour of the UN headquarters, meetings with NGOs, and hands-on service projects in the city. Amanda is grateful to the British Council for the opportunity to have attended the Global Changemakers conference. Special shout-out to 2009 GCM friends!