This past year, Plan International Canada Youth Advocates Jennifer Wani and Katherine Dibbon have refused to pause their advocacy work on global gender equality— despite the pandemic and all its challenges. Thanks to a year of virtual advocacy and hard work, they have helped ensure that the unique needs of adolescent girls are on Canada’s agenda at the upcoming UN Generation Equality Forum in Paris. They have connected with Federal Ministers, led critical events and provided feedback to global leaders – all from home.
Jennifer Wani
Plan International Canada Youth Advocate
As a member of the Canadian delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women this year, how did you maintain your energy and passion for driving change despite not be able to gather in person for these big, global moments?
Not being able to attend the event initially was disappointing. However, I realized gathering in person at events like CSW shouldn’t be the metric that I use to measure my commitment to social justice. The pandemic has shown the continuously growing gap of inequality in our local and global communities. It is this reality that continues to ignite my passion for social justice. Our world is constantly changing, so as an activist I strive to constantly learn and adapt —that is the only way we can bring our communities closer to justice.
On a global level, what lessons does your generation, and particularly young women such as yourself, have to teach us about how we can build back better in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our generation has exposed how inequality is embedded into the fibres of our global society. We are teaching people to address injustice even in the smallest of places. Globally, youth have become advocates in all possible areas, in digital spaces, relationships, communities, etc. In understanding that injustice thrives in silence, we speak out at every given chance. This fearlessness is what allows the smallest acts of justice to assemble into a large change that shifts our world’s narrative closer to justice. Youth have taught us the fight for justice is beyond a system, it is a way of life, it is revealing the truth in a world where lies have prevailed for so long.
Katherine Dibbon
Plan International Canada Youth Advocate
You are on the Generation Equality Youth Task Force and recently had the opportunity to share your ideas and insights with Canadian and world leaders on how to push forward a feminist global agenda, even through this challenging time. What was that experience like and why is it so important that global leaders invite youth advocates like yourself to these decision-making tables?
Youth stand ready and united to take the lead. These events showed me that collective action by youth is already changing things for the better. Youth are deeply impacted by the decisions leaders make, yet often disregarded in important discussions. Political leaders and policymakers need to hear from us. And, guess what? We are more likely to fight for goals we’ve had a role in crafting.
What would your advice be to other young people in Canada who want to create change and push for progress, but are dealing with the many challenges of the pandemic, whether that be lockdowns, lack of networking opportunities or even mental health issues?
Your message is still the same, and your passion is still the same; what has changed is the mechanism by which we do the work. Remind yourself why your work makes you happy and where your passion comes from. Create change and impact the world for the better but do it in a way that puts a smile on your face.
