It’s National Volunteer Week!

This week, Canada is celebrating National Volunteer Week to recognize and celebrate the efforts of dedicated volunteers across Canada. Femme is lucky enough to have an incredible group of hard working and passionate volunteers in many sectors that have contributed in a big way to Femme’s success! 

Here, we are profiling a few volunteers whose commitment to Femme has gone above and beyond. The following volunteers have contributed to our design, research, fundraising and finances and have been instrumental to Femme’s success over the past year. 

James Young is a budding graphic designer who has used his talents to create infographics and images for Femme over the past year, including our amazing logo! He consistently finds new and creative ways to help us share information in exciting ways.

“Volunteering and working with Femme International is hugely rewarding. It’s exciting to see my contributions use to further such a worthy cause!”

Derek Youdelis is a Toronto-based accountant who has dedicated countless hours of valuable time to help manage Femme’s books and accounting needs. Having Derek around to answer our many financial questions has been a much-needed resource!

“I volunteer for Femme because I believe that everybody, regardless of sex, has a the equal right to education and to develop and achieve everything that they are capable of.”

Jennifer Rubli has a background in psychology and medicine, with extensive experience in running research projects. In January 2014, she traveled to Nairobi to help organize and conduct a research project with 150 girls, and continues to be a valued member of our team. 

“Being a woman is not a choice. For as long as humans have existed, women have been menstruating, and yet only in the very recent past has it become a development issue. Gender equality is far from a reality, and just the opportunity to finish school literally makes a world of difference. I love that with Femme’s unique, educational yet simple approach, we can even the playing field a little, if we’re lucky, enough to give these girls a fighting chance at a better future.”

Devon Malcolm is Femme’s first intern! A current post-graudate student in International Development, Devon has a background in fundraising and sexual health education in rural Tanzania. In 2014, Devon is helping Femme build a fundraising strategy and design a Sexual Health Education program targeted to boys in Mathare. 

“Despite the fact that I am able to work alongside the founders, two inspiring individuals, I really believe n Femme International’s mandate. Empowering women and striving for equality by addressing female hygiene, sexual health and menstruation. I want to contribute towards achieving equality and I feel Femme’s programmes on women’s health do just that.”

Femme is lucky to have the expertise of so many talented individuals, and we are so grateful for their contributions!