Ayan Hersi is the antidote
to a culture saturated with stories of starlets famous only for being
infamous. The 2008 YWCA Young Woman of Distinction has already grappled
with more than her fair share of the world's ills. Her response has
been leadership, dedication and constructive role-modeling among her
peers. As a young Somali refugee growing up in Canada, Ayan experienced
her father's deportation, and her mother's subsequent struggle to raise
five children on social assistance.
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| Ayan Hersi |
With the strong backing of her determined mother, Ayan drew on the
resilience she had witnessed among the Somali women she and her family
came to know in refugee camps in Kenya, and resolved to be the first of
her family to graduate from university. Assuming a leadership role in
AIDS education, anti-violence advocacy, and anti-racism at the
University of Toronto and internationally, Ayan Hersi has emerged as an
early role model to her peers. She intends to use the
Julia Ruby Fund
that comes with her award to pursue a law degree in Women's Health,
Immigration and Human Rights and a Masters degree in Public Policy in
order to advocate for women in Canada and internationally.
Ayan Hersi took up the call of leadership at an early age. In high
school, she declared her intention to be President of her school's
student council.When she was told by fellow students that a black girl
would never achieve such a post and should run instead for a less
demanding position, she became more determined to run and win.
Bolstered by her mother's support, she campaigned and won, becoming the
first black young woman to be President of her high school. In the
aftermath of September 11th when Muslim students at her high school
experienced an increase in bullying, threats and insults, Ayan
developed an anti-racism campaign. She also developed the
Young Women's Leadership Program
at her school, ensuring that young women who might otherwise be
marginalized had the opportunity to discuss their experiences and build
their skills.
Never forgetting the world she had to leave behind, Ayan is
passionate about international development. She has spearheaded human
rights training for women in Namibia, Kenya and Somalia, advocating
their presence at decision-making tables. A valued part of the
United Nations Development Program,
Ayan spent the summer of 2007 in Namibia as part of a University of
Toronto HIV/AIDS academic field project. Easily the most pressing issue
for African women, Ayan tackled the taboos of AIDS education, using
tools such as popular theatre and art. Together, she and the
community's girls and women produced a video distributed in Canada and
parts of Africa. Living as part of the community despite considerable
risk of violence, Ayan worked in solidarity with local women and girls
to advocate for anonymous HIV/AIDS testing centres, counselling, and
treatment and prevention programs. Ayan took her campaign beyond the
local level and lobbied policy makers in Namibia to implement
successful HIV/AIDS prevention programs that rely on indigenous
systems. Breaking through considerable resistance, the project was
recognized by the Namibian media for challenging misconceptions of
HIV/AIDS in Namibia. The young women involved in the project were also
invited to perform their educational theatre in parliament.
Ayan augments her volunteer tutoring by supporting disabled
students, ensuring they receive accommodations and financial assistance
to succeed in school. She has also been named University of Toronto
first
Gender Adolescent AIDS Prevention Honorary Ambassador for her international work on AIDS prevention.
Ayan is the founder of
Youth in Touch, a non-profit
youth led organization that provides young people with access to
networking skills, money management, legal rights and access to
education.
For her tenacity, vision and commitment to improving the lives of
women and girls with all she brings to life, Ayan Hersi is the 2008
Young Woman of Distinction.
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Ayan Hersi - 2008 Young Woman of Distinction
Source: YWCA
