Recap of the 2024 M.I.C Youth Conference
Are you curious about international education? Or wondering what the country of Myanmar is like? The speakers at the MIC (Motivate, Inspire, Connect) Conference taught us so much about well-being, education, and emotion. Each speaker had diverse viewpoints and shared many meaningful lessons with the audience. Throughout the conference, which was held online on Saturday, April 20, we learned about the importance of empathy and finding balance in our lives. We gained valuable insights into world issues that impact millions of people. In this article, we will outline the highlights of the M.I.C Youth Conference!
Ilse Fick
Ilse Fick, the first speaker at the MIC Conference, inspired us with her action-based mindset and love of giving back to the community. Born in Honduras, Ilse is a proud member of the New Circles team, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to construct strong communities by providing clothing and skills-training programs for those who deserve both dignity and equity.
New Circles offers a clothing bank known as GLOW, or Gently Loved Outfits to Wear. GLOW is not only the largest clothing bank in Toronto but also one of the most unique ones. The clothing bank is structured similarly to a clothing store at a mall. It is complete with a clothing rack that allows all “customers” to easily select which style of clothing suits them best. The “store” also has a changing room and a check-out station. Unlike other clothing banks and thrift stores, New Circles’ GLOW program offers clothing free of charge. This way, individuals, no matter their financial status, can access a wide variety of clothing. Having accessible clothing is crucial for many families and communities.
New Circles also offers skills-training programs. These programs are fundamental to many communities, especially those new to Canada who have migrated here from countries of conflict. Skills-training programs “train” these individuals to assist them in finding job opportunities. Some programs include business office skills, retail and customer skills, home support worker skills and the make-it entrepreneurship program.
New Circles not only assists those in need. It assists them with the dignity they deserve, which Ilse believes is significant for all. She talked about feeling fortunate about her current position and financial status upon hearing the stories of some of the individuals she helps. Ilse feels privileged that she had left her country of origin by choice and not by force. Throughout her time at New Circles, Ilse feels that she has changed and grown as a person overall. A quote from a family New Circle has helped is, “We will treasure your gifts as a remembrance and a lesson for us to do the same when we see better days. We can’t thank you enough!”
Melissa Berton
Melissa Berton is the motivating and feminist founder and executive director of The Pad Project, an organisation founded in 2013 that aims to empower menstruators globally and conquer period stigma and period poverty. During the MIC conference, Melissa inspired us with her determined spirit and perseverance throughout her entire journey.
When looking at traditional pieces of literature from the past, Melissa noticed that the male characters were more notable, as they were celebrated for their many achievements and accomplishments. The women, however, were more notable for giving birth. This information disturbed Melissa, leading her to discover an ongoing problem: period poverty.
Period. End of Sentence, an Oscar award-winning, was directed by Melissa herself along with her team at The Pad Project. The short documentary shows the unknown stories of women in Delhi, India, dealing with their periods. It shows their uncertainty and embarrassment surrounding periods. This motivational documentary really represented Melissa’s passion for raising awareness about period poverty and is available to be streamed on Netflix and YouTube.
Melissa truly inspired us throughout the MIC conference with her determination to resolve the issue of period poverty and stigmas. “A period should end a sentence,” Melissa says, ” not a girl’s education.
Karen Wang
Karen Wang, an innovative speaker, is the CEO of Climind. She is most notably known for being the first Chinese woman to be selected as a Young Leader for the SDGs recognized by the UN (United Nations). Throughout her time at the conference, Karen fascinated us with her knowledge about technology, innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and her own AI platform, Climind.
Climind is a revolutionary AI platform combining technology and an ongoing, global issue: climate change. It is a conversational chatbot specifically designed to answer questions about global warming and climate change. Karen addressed that it was important for pressing questions about our Earth to be answered. And what better way to answer them than with an advanced and precise AI platform? Climind is not only used for everyday questions, however. It is also used by businesses and corporations around the globe to help make efficient, more eco-friendly decisions for both their company and the environment. Finally, Climind is equipped with a multilingual copilot, meaning it is accessible in languages other than English. This is fundamental for global and accessible use for all.
Karen and her team’s AI platform, Climind, impressed us all at the conference. I personally was extremely interested in Climind and didn’t hesitate to try it out for myself! Karen’s presentation just came to show that effort and teamwork can really have a successful and beautiful outcome.
Hugh Chow
Hugh Chow, an insightful individual, discussed with us the importance of our resources and how to utilise them in a way that is impactful. Hugh highlights that resources are not just pieces of oil or wood but can be miracles at times when used effectively. Hugh also discusses the global economy and its impact on people’s lives. He argues that, while the world is creating value through currency, etc, it is crucial to find where you want to assert yourself and do what you believe is right, one of humanity’s moral obligations. This includes doing what you are passionate about and what interests you most.
When making career decisions, Hugh highlights the need to find a balance between making money and doing what matters to us. He believes this can help individuals make better career choices and contribute to a greater society.
During the conference, Hugh shares a personal story of pursuing his passion for chip design. This interest led to his own startup business. Soon after, he was recruited by the Hong Kong government to run the Applied Science and Research Institute, a place of high prestige.
Hugh strongly believes that life is a learning process, and if you want to find a match for your goals, consider exploring other countries. He believes that looking outwards it will give you different perspectives on certain global issues. He believes that exploring outside of Canada may be what is needed to reach higher goals.
Hugh also mentions the number of top schools in Toronto and the possibility of staying there. However, he returns to his previous point, advising that you should be guided by what matters to you. Many people focus on others, comparing themselves to people’s expectations, but they should focus on doing what they enjoy most.
Hugh’s presentation really highlights the importance of understanding the role of resources in our world and finding a balance between making money and doing what matters to us. By doing what truly matters to you, Hugh has taught us you can succeed in any field. Everyone has a different definition of success, and it is important to focus on your goals and what you want to achieve.
Bryan Dickie
Bryan Dickie is a skilled photographer working to teach people about Myanmar. In 2010, Bryan travelled to Myanmar and fell in love with its culture and history. Since then, he has spent the last 10 years photographing Myanmar. In his captivating presentation, he teaches us about the importance of community and collaboration.
Bryan believes that photography is not only an art but also a passport into people’s lives. By capturing images, he can easily break down barriers and form connections. By capturing these people, Bryan has taken an undermined story and shared it with the world in a beautiful way.
Myanmar became a “xenophobic nation” when a coup occurred in 2021. He says that the parliament turned their country into a jail cell for civilians, with no way to reach the outside world. At the time, parliament was flourishing in Myanmar, and the locals decided they would no longer be treated this way.
Civilians all came together to create a civil-based group created to fight against the parliamentary groups. They called themselves the PDF, or the People’s Defence Force. The parliament portrayed the groups as harmful, referring to them as “rebel groups.” . Bryan tells us that Myanmar is an extremely complicated country with no black-and-white issues. At the time, there were numerous different ethnic groups in Myanmar. He explains to us how they were all willing to set aside their differences, their morals, values and beliefs to fight for the freedom of their country. He told us this story with such passion and detail I was fascinated to know more.
He told us about his clients and their unique stories, from Lay Hymn, an abandoned orphan, to Coco, a millionaire who was one of the largest donors for the PDF. Each of these stories is about everyday citizens who want to help their country. They all risked their lives for the betterment of future generations.
Bryan looks at issues that are undermined, and he shares them through art. Take the example of Myanmar. A struggling country that no one knew about. Bryan highlights the importance of empathy towards people, “Just listen, give people in Myanmar the voice.” He says that we live in an “information war,” trying to determine what is reputable. This is why he believes it is crucial to listen to first-hand perspectives.
Sonja Monastyrski
Sonja Monastyrski taught us about the importance of international education in this engaging presentation. During her speech, she explains how through attending school in places, including Ukraine, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Curria, Jordan, Germany and San-Francisco, Sonja learned about each country’s values and goals. This taught her not only about their culture but also how to communicate well and be a hospitable person. To elaborate, she mentions how in Ottawa, she was taught how to communicate in a diplomatic manner and how to speak with confidence. When she was in Korea, she discovered everyone was oriented by a passion or a goal. This encouraged her to challenge herself and strive for excellence.
Sonja also explains all of the benefits of going to Minerva, speaking to her experience as a student. She explains that by going to such an international university, she encountered a lot of financial and religious diversity amongst her peers. Many listeners questioned her choice to go to Minerva, as it does not have its own campus and instead is an online, travel university. She replied saying that she admired Minerva’s admissions test, which challenged creative thinking and decision-making. Sonja also remarked that she found Minerva’s digital platform highly engaging. Minerva University allows you to gain independence and live in an international environment.
At this conference, Sonja shares her experiences of travelling the world while attending her university. She learned about different cultures, values, and communication styles from her experiences in Ukraine, Ottawa, Korea, Jordan, Germany, and San Francisco. Sonja’s experience at Minerva University has given her valuable insights into international education’s importance. Sonja believes that through travelling, she has been able to look at ideas through unique views, having the ability to examine things through multiple perspectives.
Closing Remarks
In this captivating conference, viewers engrossed themselves in the beauty of these diverse stories. The speakers taught us so much about the importance of well-being, education as well as emotion. Each speaker had diverse viewpoints and shared many meaningful lessons with their audience. Through listening, we learned about the importance of empathy and finding balance in our lives. We gained valuable insights into world issues that impact millions of people. We are so glad Sonja, Bryan, Ilse, Hugh, Melissa and Karen allowed us to listen to their stories, and we hope to hear from them again soon!