Please note: All reports, project descriptions and news items are published only in the original language, unless a second-language text is supplied by the author.
5 November 2011
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I need hardly say that I am thrilled to have returned in June to what I can only describe as the best job in the world: the opportunity to help equip, empower, and enable emerging leaders to address critical global challenges in their respective communities and countries.
I am grateful to my friend, colleague and Interim Executive Director Ion Valaskakis for so ably running the 2010-2011 Program. (Please read his account of the year.) Thanks to Ion’s administrative talents and enthusiasm, transitions to and from our respective mandates have been seamless. I would also like to second Ion’s recognition of the “fantastic work performed by the selfless Directors of the Sauvé Foundation Board.”
INTRODUCING THE 2011-2012 SCHOLARS
As is the case each year, it is with pleasure and pride that the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation and the Sauvé Scholars Program introduce the 14 members of the new cohort of Sauvé Scholars.
With their arrival, the Program has now welcomed 114 Scholars from 47 countries, including two new countries of provenance: Paraguay and the Palestinian Territories.
Once again, our Scholars are accomplished, diverse and exceptional emerging leaders. They are activists, advocates, development experts, educators, environmentalists, journalists, social entrepreneurs, and more. Whether they have attended local colleges or great universities, they have excelled, and more importantly, have put their acquired knowledge at the service of their community – local and/or global.
Collectively, they can communicate in 20 languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Dzongkha, Hindi, Isizulu, Mandarin, Urdu and South African Sign Language.
I invite you to learn more about the Scholars and their goals for the Sauvé year.
2011-2012 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Our first months have been both busy and enriching, with visits from several high-profile guests, including two former Canadian Prime Ministers, and a wide range of programming that has kept Scholars on their toes. A few highlights follow.
After the intensive orientation activities during which the Scholars were introduced to the delights of Montreal, McGill and Sauvé House, they organized a Labour Day weekend camping trip in the Laurentians. Despite a massive thunderstorm, as Stephanie recounts on the Sauvé Scholars’ Blog, it was a great bonding experience.
The Opening Reception on 6 September introduced the Scholars to the extended “Sauvé family”: Directors, staff, alumni, mentors, volunteers and friends of the Program. McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Heather Monroe-Blum extended a warm welcome to the Scholars and reiterated her affection and esteem for the Program, describing it as “an antidote to despair” – all about hope for the future. The photos show the conviviality that pervaded the event.
On the evenings of September 26 and 27, the Scholars publicly presented their project plans and goals for the year. Grouped thematically (Environment & Sustainability; Human Rights & Education; Social Entrepreneurship; Media & Advocacy), the well-attended presentations generated much interest, feedback and support from the broader community.
We were honoured that Canada’s 19th Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, launched this year’s Distinguished Speakers Series on 21 September.
The death of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai on 25 September evoked memories of her last official visit to Canada in September 2009, when she spoke at Sauvé House. I first met this remarkable woman at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio and later while working as a researcher and reporter at the UN Environment Program in Nairobi: her grace, intellect and strength were awe-inspiring. To honour Professor Maathai’s memory, we have planted a sturdy little pine tree close to those planted in memory of Mimi Maza and Jim Wright. Kenyan Scholar Paul Omonge was among those who spoke, and has written an account of the ceremony.
Cleo Paskal, Chatham House Fellow and author of Global Warring on the geopolitics of climate change, engaged an enthusiastic audience as our second Distinguished Speaker on 18 October.
The Scholars were privileged to participate in a wide-ranging private discussion with Canada’s 21st Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Paul Martin on 20 October. As Sadia Rafiquddin notes in her report about the event, to have a candid discussion about issues that matter in such an intimate setting with a former head of government was both an honour and a privilege.
Our informal Tea Guest tradition continues. Among the first guests this year have been: Flora Terah, Kenyan activist and candidate in the 2007 Parliamentary elections; and Kyle Matthews, Senior Deputy Director at Will to Intervene Project, Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Concordia University.
To date, the Scholars have benefitted from three of five Professional Development sessions with Ion Valaskakis, the first on Presence and Presentation; the second on Personal Branding and Digital Best Practices; and the third on Negotiation. Ion also holds office hours during which Scholars may consult with him on all aspects of their professional development.
On a lighter note, my family and I were very happy that many of the Scholars joined us for a traditional apple-picking outing in the country. It was wonderful to also have Sauvé alumna Lilit Simonyan (2010-11) and her husband Galé join us for the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed the gorgeous autumn colours of Quebec.
Thanks to our Chairman Sonny Gordon and Dundee’s corporate box, the Scholars made their annual pilgrimage to an NHL hockey game - a first for several.
Finally, the Scholars have hosted three delicious National Evenings – each highlighting their cuisine and culture: Canada, Kenya, and China. Everyone is looking forward to more.
JEANNE SAUVÉ ADDRESS
We are honoured that on Thursday 17 November, an outstanding Canadian journalist and humanitarian delivered the 2011 Jeanne Sauvé Address. Sally Armstrong spoke on The New Revolutionaries: Achieving ‘the Equality Effect’ for Women and Girls Around the World. The event was a resounding success- more soon!
ALUMNI NEWS
With 100 former Sauvé Scholars currently living learning, leading, and launching around the world, there is much good news from our Alumni. Going forward, you can expect to hear more about – and from – them. For now, we send our warmest congratulations to newlyweds, new parents, and to those undertaking new and exciting career and educational opportunities.
We are deeply grateful that our Alumni continue to play central roles in supporting and shaping the Program. Special thanks are due to Local Alumni, who are particularly active in assisting the Scholars and Program this year. Of course, we also wish to acknowledge the hard work of those 30 Alumni around the world who participated in the international Pre-Selection Stage of our Scholar Selection Process. Finally, special thanks are due to all the 2010-11 Scholars for being excellent “buddies” to the new cohort.
Engaging Scholars past and present is a priority for the Foundation as we strive to achieve Jeanne Sauvé’s vision of creating a “network of leaders” across cohorts, regions, professions and sectors. With this in mind, I am thrilled to announce that Liam McHugh-Russell (Sauvé Scholar 2009-10) has been elected to the Board of Directors as its first alumni member.
THE SAUVÉ TEAM
With the retirement of Louise Brunet-Nelson, Sauvé House welcomes the efficient and ever-helpful Valérie Colas, who has assumed the responsibilities of Executive Assistant and Household Coordinator.
Simone Hanchet has taken on a new, expanded role as Program & Communications Director, while Ion Valaskakis continues his association with us, coordinating the Scholars’ Professional Development Program and serving as a Special Advisor.
In addition, we are very grateful to our volunteers, whose devotion of time and expertise remain invaluable to all that we do. Saman Ahsan (2003-04 Scholar), Wendy Belisle, Melissa Boisvenue, Roger Colas, Kiara Kaminski, Fréderique Morier, Sophie Salbaing, Jamie Walker and David Wright have helped with special events and a range of other ongoing Foundation activities. Diana Thébaud Nicholson continues to wield her virtual red pencil for all our key communications.
THANK YOU!
In closing, I would like to again thank all of you –Alumni, Board members, Mentors, Partners, Sauvé Scholars, Staff, Volunteers and friends of the Program. Your continued support is critical to achieving our main goal: to equip, empower, and enable a new generation of leaders to address critical global challenges affecting their communities, their countries, and our world.
I look forward to sharing with you the adventures and successes of the 2011-2012 Scholars as the year unfolds.
For more regular updates on the Sauvé Scholars Program, I invite you to follow us on Twitter and on Facebook. For updates from the Scholars’ perspectives, visit the Sauvé Scholars Blog.
Regards,
Désirée McGraw
Executive Director
Jeanne Sauvé Foundation and Sauvé Scholars Foundation
