Social justice, the environment, collaboration and people who are interested in making a difference!
Speakers
Kim Phuc, UNESCO Goodwill AmbassadorKim Phuc was born and raised in the village of Trang Bang, 30 minutes north of Saigon. During the Vietnam War, an American military advisor coordinated the napalm bombing of Kim's village by the South Vietnamese. Kim was photographed running down the road, screaming from the burns to her skin. The famous photograph of Kim Phuc became a symbol of civilian suffering in the Vietnam War.Kim suffered many years of painful burn therapy, but she always longed to reach out and help other children who were victimized by war. Her incredible strength and spirit are evident when she speaks about forgiveness and helping children.In 1997, UNESCO named Kim Phuc a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace. Hear her remarkable story and her inspirational words at the Global Youth Assembly. Katy Hutchison Katy Hutchison, the mother of fourteen-year-old twins, was the victim of violent crime after the horrific murder of her husband Bob on New Year’s Eve, 1997.Since this time, Katy has engaged in a tireless journey of forgiveness and healing at a grassroots level. Having worked closely with the young man who murdered her husband, Katy now speaks to youth across the country, giving a human face to victims, and encouraging them to make informed decisions.Don’t miss this memorable presentation from a concerned parent, author and restorative justice advocate. Dr. Rubin "Hurricane" Carter Dr. Rubin “Hurricane†Carter was first known for his skills in the boxing ring as a top-ranked prize fighter, before being arrested for murder in 1966. He spent two decades fighting his conviction, maintaining his innocence throughout the process. After 22 years, Dr. Carter’s charges were dismissed, with “the extensive record clearly [demonstrating] that [the] petitioners’ convictions were predicated upon an appeal to racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure.â€His story has now been immortalized in Bob Dylan’s song “Hurricaneâ€, and in the critically acclaimed film “The Hurricane†directed by Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison.Dr. Carter is has become a social activist, and was a founding member of the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC), a Canadian volunteer organization dedicated to preventing and rectifying wrongful conviction. Today, as a motivational speaker, Rubin takes his audiences on a journey of personal determination, enlightening them on the power of self-esteem and worth, and the importance of never giving up hope.Godeliève Mukasarasi Rwandan human rights activist Godeliève Mukasarasi was awarded the 2004 John Humphrey Freedom Award by Rights & Democracy. A survivor of the 1994 genocide, Ms. Mukasarasi has gone on to make an invaluable contribution to the promotion of human rights and democratic development in Rwanda as the founderof SEVOTA, a support group for the widows and orphans of the April 19, 1994, massacre of Tutsi in the town of Taba, and as a social worker with the Women's Network for Rural Development. Working alongside women victims of violence and other women human rights activists, she influenced Rwanda's organic law on genocide and crimes against humanity, especially the sections on rape which were given the same status as Class 1 crimes.The fruit of her labour was the women's peace network (URUNANA), which promotes self-healing, human dignity, mutual support and solidarity, among 230 women survivors of violence and rape, both Tutsi and Hutu, as a means to overcome their problems. As a member of the coalition against violence, she has encouraged women to provide testimonials through the media, in order effect change throughout the community, as well as before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to further the fight against impunity. Ms. Mukasarasi also prioritized recreational, sports and counselling facilities for children in distress. In October 1996, she was awarded the Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life from the Women's World Summit Foundation in Geneva.
Sol Guy Music producer Sol Guy inspires and empowers young people to improve the world around them. Known for his work with such artists as Lauryn Hill, Outkast and P. Diddy, Guy's career took an unexpected turn with a visit to Sierra Leone. Unable to ignore the plight of a people ravaged by war, Guy set out to use the entertainment business as a vehicle for social change.With projects in music, film and television, Guy's message is reaching young people around the world. Audiences will be inspired to work for the betterment of their communities and empowered that they can make a change that matters. Go to http://www.youthassembly.ca/dnn/Program/Speakers/tabid/60/De fault.aspx to view more of our featured speakers.
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