It’s no secret that our volunteers are amazing! Time after time, they make incredible efforts to get informed and take action to advocate for a world without extreme poverty. Courtney was our 2020 winner of the Outstanding Youth Award. What “outstanding” means for her is getting out there and being open to learning new things.
“I am beyond ecstatic to be the winner of the Outstanding Youth Award! I think a lot of young people, like me, often struggle with imposter syndrome, so this award shows that any action, no matter how small, is valuable.”
She joined the Results family in 2018 and became the Carleton University group leader just one year later. Ever since, she has grown her leadership and advocacy skills consistently over the years: “it’s been amazing to grow alongside so many trailblazing advocates!”
Courtney has had many formative experiences during her time with Results, all because she boldly took every opportunity to learn and speak up. A moment that stands out for her was the Results International Conference of Summer 2019 - not only was this a unique opportunity to be part of the Canadian delegation who met with leaders at the World Bank Headquarters, but Courtney really made the best of it:
“I was sitting beside the Executive Director and asked questions about declining access to education in conflict settings and its disproportionate effect on women and girls. I had felt nervous to speak, but after I posed my question, I felt even more connected to our conversation and to our mission as citizen advocates. The experience was so rewarding and hugely strengthened my confidence. I owe this amazing experience to those who attended this meeting with me, especially Chris, for reminding me about how valuable my voice is and encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone!”
It’s no surprise that when asked if volunteering with Results has had an impact on her, the answer was a resounding “yes”:
“Since day one, I knew I was becoming involved in something really special. Results has always been an inclusive, supportive community of like-minded citizen advocates who inspire me. The community’s encouragement has helped me step out of my comfort zone and take action! I’ve become much more confident and gained amazing experiences, whether that be my volunteering within the Results Carleton University Group, attending the Results International Conference and Results Canada National Conference, meeting with government representatives, developing global health leadership and advocacy skills, making friends, and finding meaningful ways to achieve steps towards the eradication of poverty and preventable disease.”
Courtney’s next big step is to write a Letter to the Editor that gets published: “I’ve never had an LTE published before, but it’s been a goal of mine ever since joining. I hope to see this goal realized sometime soon!”
All that said, Courtney firmly believes that advocacy is a team sport because every individual voice is powerful.
“Advocacy to me means taking action to achieve a shared goal. This definition speaks to me and my experiences because as a citizen advocate with Results, I am part of a global team making powerful strides towards Results’ mission. It’s the shared passion with the Results community that inspires me to keep taking action.”
As a university campus group leader, what would she say to someone unsure about taking advocacy actions alongside school? “Here at Results, the smallest of actions count! Joining Results doesn’t have to be an overwhelming commitment. I recommend attending one of our monthly education and action meetings to get to know everyone and our shared mission. If you use your voice to advocate for a world without poverty, whether that be lobbying your government, publishing LTEs, using social media, or committing to learning and growing, you will certainly make an impact.”
Thank you Courtney for your continuous advocacy efforts in support of global health and education!
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