FK
“I don’t need to hold a big position or be speaking to big crowds for me to be a leader. I can use every opportunity to help make a change in someone’s life.”
When did you come to Canada?
September 22nd, 2018.
Where did you come from?
Uganda, East Africa
In a sentence or two, can you describe why you wanted to move to Canada?
For personal and professional development reasons.
Why were you interested in joining the S2S program?
I wanted to enhance my leadership skills, my public speaking, as well as build a personal and professional network in the community.
What is the most significant thing you have learned about yourself since being a Sister?
I have a better understanding of my personal and professional personality through the interactions we had in class, as well as the assessment survey that we did and the feedback from other participants. I’ve learned I need to be less judgemental and ask more questions. I have also learned that there are so many good people and good leaders out there, and it’s only programs like the Sister2Sister Program that can help us find each other. The group was so diverse and hearing their stories and experiences helped me understand and appreciate the different worlds that we come from and how that makes us who we are.
Please finish these two sentences with one word that describes how you are feeling:
Before the program, I was in the wilderness. After the program, I am more connected.
What did you appreciate the most about the program?
The team of women facilitators who worked with us were very knowledgeable, very courageous and very easy to relate to.
What is your favourite memory from the program?
When I participated in the panel discussion on gender-based violence that we developed as part of the 16 days of activism campaign. As a panellist, I had the opportunity to speak publicly and to share my experience on a topic that is so pertinent to many.
What did you learn about gender-based violence?
GBV affects mostly women, but other genders also face it in different ways.
The 16 Days of Activism was a new concept for me, and it demonstrates how serious GBV is and how activists need to continue to raise awareness about it.
GBV is not only physical but also psychological, through the unspoken, the unacted and the unthought-of incidents.
What does it mean to you to be a good leader? How has the Sister2Sister program helped you develop that skill or outlook?
A good leader is someone who has a strong sense of what they do, and who is willing to go the extra mile for what they stand for. They’re humble and can reach out to others. The Sister2Sister program has helped me:
Discover my sense of purpose and how I can use this to inspire and connect to others in the community.
Understand that I don’t need to hold a prominent position or be speaking to big crowds for me to be a leader. I can use every opportunity to help make a change in someone’s life.
What is your one piece of advice to future Sister2Sister members?
The Sister2Sister program is an excellent program where you have the opportunity to connect, share stories and experiences, and grow your leadership skills together with other women in this new environment.
FK shares more of how the program changed in her life in her PhotoVoice project.
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