Page 178 - EMBRACE Book
P. 178

Ashalee, Canada






               "An ADRA rep came to our school and presented on                          I didn't know much about these issues before joining the
               EMBRACE. The school's pastor started an EMBRACE group at                  group. I think we're so privileged. We think all these things
               the school. At first, there weren't many students. It was                 we have in Canada are a necessity. But they're not. So many
               voluntary to be a part of the group. As the years went by,                people in the world don't have them. Like free health care.
               more kids wanted to join. We were doing a lot of outings so               Or going from point A to point B. Or clean water. If I have a
               you needed to be on top of your school work to be allowed to              baby, I have options for how I want to deliver. It's so sad to
               join. I would say there were around 20 students in the group,             think what women in third world countries struggle with.
               grades 9-12.
                                                                                         I'm graduating this June. After joining the group in the fourth
               Last year we did a fundraising event. But mostly we did                   year, I switched my plan to study Forensic Anthropology to
               presentations to raise awareness. We did presentations at                 Women's Studies and Sociology. With this degree, I want to
               Crawford, Kingsway, a women's convention, and a few                       go into law. But first I want to get my Masters in Women's
               others. We presented on the mothers in Africa and the                     Studies. It could open a lot of doors for me; I could even work
               Philippines, the delivery process in these countries, how far             for ADRA! Many communities have clinics for women, for
               women have to go for water, what it's like being pregnant                 health, and mental health. I want to do sociology so I know
               there, if they have a hospital or clinic they can reach, and if           how to conduct surveys in these areas to find out what the
               not, how they need to have a woman to help them deliver.                  real need is before coming in and saying I want to help.
               We learned about these issues through the ADRA                            That's an approach I learned through being in the ADRA
               representative who came and presented them to us. We                      group. I think being in this group was a new experience for
               participated in the grade 11 challenge, as well.                          everyone. It was different to see something you don't see
                                                                                         every day. It was life-changing!"









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