Please join us in welcoming our two new practicum students, Megan (left) and Mili (right).
Megan Asselin
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a social work student at the University of Calgary, and I’m doing my practicum at the Women’s Centre this fall. It’s technically the fourth year of my program, but it took me eight years to get to this point, so I guess slow and steady wins the race?
What brought you to the Women’s Centre of Calgary?
A friend of mine did her practicum here last year, and loved it, so she suggested I consider coming here as well. I’m really glad she did!
What is your personal definition of feminism?
For me feminism is about equality among people, regardless of their gender, and the work that sometimes needs to be done to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities for success in all the things that are important to them.
What’s one thing you hope to learn at the Women’s Centre?
I’d love to learn how to introduce the benefits of a peer model into the work I do in the future.
Describe a woman who you admire and/or has influenced your life.
I think my grandmother is an amazing woman. She fought for girls to be allowed to learn typing in her school, and then worked for the army during World War II. When she moved to Canada after the war, she spent four years raising three children on her own in a one room cabin, with a wood burning stove, and no running water, electricity, or neighbours nearby. That was 70 years ago, and she still remembers experiencing a blizzard and mosquitoes for the first time, in the same month. But she stuck with it, and the example of her perseverance has helped me through my own rough times.
Mili Jobanputra
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Mili and I am currently a fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary. I was born and raised in Edmonton, but moved to Calgary to get my degree. I like to read, meditate and practice yoga in my spare time!
What brought you to the Women’s Centre of Calgary?
When deciding which organization I wanted to do my first practicum at, I had a lot of questions and concerns. I really wanted to get real life experience in an organization that successfully put into practice the values that I have. Once I did some research on the Women’s Centre, I knew it would be a perfect match!
What is your personal definition of feminism?
To me, feminism is the fact that gender does not determine the value or ability of a human. It also represents a movement towards ending sexism and oppression of all kinds by being critical of society and the circumstances that we so easily take for granted.
What is one thing you hope to learn at the Women’s Centre?
I hope to learn about the strength and importance of community. I would also love to broaden my understanding of feminism and how to put feminist values into practice.
Describe a woman who you admire and/or has influenced your life.
As cliché as this may seem, my mom has probably had the biggest impact in my life. She picked up her life and moved half way across the world in hopes of a better life for her family. She is one of the hardest working people I have ever met and her endless determination to put as much positive energy out into the world as she can is so inspiring to me.