We are grateful to all interns, volunteers, and staff members we have had to pleasure of working with.
Anjali Rao – VOW University of Toronto Student Intern
Anjali Rao is a third-year student at the University of Toronto, studying economics and peace, conflict, and justice studies. She is an advocate for peace and human rights, with particular attention to gender equality, education, and the environment. She is currently the president of the on-campus chapter of LOVE146, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking and exploitation. Anjali is excited to help further the mission to promote disarmament and stop war as an intern at VOW.
Vanessa Lanteigne – National Coordinator
2019 – 2022
After completing her studies from the University of Victoria in political science, Vanessa worked in a variety of roles in nonprofits. In Tanzania, she worked at a children’s rights organization whose main areas were to improve gender equality by preventing child marriage, unwanted teenage pregnancies and female genital cutting/mutilation. Vanessa has trained over 1000 Ghanaian youth in employment and entrepreneurship programs. She also helped roll out the first Innovation Fund, which was then replicated in five other countries to give entrepreneurs seed capital. She has worked in a variety of roles in Canada as well in the education, environmental and human rights fields.
Melissa Weale – Office Assistant and Ontario Coordinator
Melissa worked in the office part-time with different tasks. Some of her tasks include event organizing, promotion, website assistance, graphic design and any other support where needed. She coordinated local events in Toronto and supports other cities within Ontario. Melissa is passionate about integrating the culture of peace into our daily lives. She runs her own non-profit SHECYCLE to promote the environmental connection. Her main focuses are tackling the waste system and the military system.
She is usually out at protests and offering others support in their emotional change to peace. She has been volunteering with VOW for many years, supporting local events, and promotional materials. Her background is in graphic design, business and offers her experience where she can. Having a strong connection to VOW organizing, with many networking and opportunities has helped her grow in her career and work on projects she wouldn’t have thought she otherwise could have.
Neha Vashist – Advocacy Research Coordinator
Neha Vashist is an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta. She’s currently majoring in Psychology and pursuing a minor in Sociology. For her, writing is a passion that she enjoys using to amplify unheard voices and spread awareness on social injustices. Neha wrote and directed a play in Edmonton to provide a first hand look at the repercussions of acid attacks and domestic violence against women. She believes that education is the not-so-secret, secret ingredient for longterm, systematic change to be sustainable. She is a strong advocate for mental health in her community and on campus where she is currently volunteering to assemble a COVID-19 support group for students. She works as a group assistant at a therapy program for kids on the autism spectrum. Neha has led many initiatives such as a welcome card making initiative for Syrian refugee students, a letter project connecting high school students with youth at juvenile detention centres and a peer-to-peer math tutoring program for elementary kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ebony Davitt
As a Graduate student at the University of Toronto Ebony’s research focused on the histories of Black women’s enslavement throughout the Atlantic World. Through this research, she has been invited to speak at a number of New College workshops including the U of T Caribbean, African, and Equity Women’s Writing Collective. As a speaker, she discussed the contemporary socio-political legacies of violence against enslaved women as well as mentoring students on writing about Black experiences and trauma. This passion for anti-racism work and women’s history grew inspiring her to publish a journal article focusing on the forgotten contributions of enslaved people during the Civil War in the United States. This research led her to work alongside the Women and Gender Studies Department at U of T and help students explore and publish their experiences as women and marginalized people through their writing.
Growing up in the southern U.S., Ebony found a passion for activism and social justice during the beginnings of the BlackLivesMatter movement. From this, she has become a passionate supporter of demilitarizing police as well as peace and racial justice initiatives throughout Canada. Ebony is excited to be a part of the VOW team and its efforts to uplift women and fight for justice.
Charlotte Akin – Research and Advocacy Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020 – Current VOW Board Member
Charlotte holds a Master of Arts in Global Development from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Mount Allison University. Her Master’s research focused on the rights and status of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in Greece. She explored this research through the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Charlotte has a passion for human rights and feminist praxis. Her work throughout her university studies and during an internship at Amnesty International USA solidified this passion. She has engaged with fossil fuel divestment movements, climate change and anti-racism activism. Charlotte strives to continue her peace activism with VOW. With a commitment to solidarity-oriented global activist work, Charlotte has experience in intersectional feminist research methodologies with work on children’s rights, migration and labour regimes, and sexual health and reproductive rights. During 2018-2019, she lived in Nagasaki prefecture where she worked on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme as an Assistant Language Teacher promoting foreign language and culture education in elementary and junior high schools. Charlotte is thrilled to assist VOW in commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Eugénie Godin – Advocacy and Social Media Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Eugénie Godin’s true passion has always been Human rights and world peace. Born and raised in Quebec, she’s never been less than a week without working on multiple campaigns. She aims to promote gender equality through the abolition of child marriages, access to education for young girls and petition signings to free many free-speech advocates who have been wrongly imprisoned by their justice systems.
Eugénie is currently studying in Social sciences: Diplomacy, Law and International Relations at the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal. In the past years, Eugénie has written many journal articles on the events of American politics, Canadian politics and international meetings or policies of the UN. She believes that democracy, combined with willpower, is the best tool a population has.
She always believed that feminism, freedom of speech and a good education can shape and change the world. As a result, she’s been a part of many Amnesty International campaigns, as well as numerous Oxfam initiatives. Additionally, Eugénie participated in the UN Arts Games committee, EVB Convention for the Youth, the National Amnesty International convention, the World Social Forum, and the Camp for Young UNESCO leaders. She strives to achieve change in her community and she works until she obtains the best possible outcome without hesitation. Eugénie is incredibly thrilled to join VOW Peace’s team this 2020
Kevan Chambers – Research and Advocacy Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Kevan Chambers is a game designer, narrative designer, and intersectional feminist with a passion for social justice. He is a recent graduate from Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, having earned his Honours Bachelors of Game Design. Kevan knows that social movements start with the people and that the hearts and minds of supporters are at the center of change. Kevan believes that “black lives matter” and “all people deserve food and a home” should not be controversial statements. Whether pushing for the defunding of the military complex, respecting the rights and land of Indigenous people in Canada, or advocating against the destruction of our home and environment, Kevan knows that a better world for everyone can be achieved—we need only fight for it. He is excited to work with VOW and help bring light to the myriad issues plaguing Canada and beyond.
Lindsay Neuert – Research Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Lindsay Neuert is an incoming University of Guelph undergraduate student. She will be studying a Bachelor of Biological Sciences, majoring in Neuroscience. Lindsay is interested in the mental health and wellness side of neuroscience. She has worked with non-profits such as Jack.org where she focused on breaking down the barriers that surround mental health. Lindsay wishes to inspire others to tackle social justice issues that they are passionate about. Lindsay has worked locally, nationally, and internationally striving to create better communities and systems. She is delighted to learn and grow working alongside such knowledgeable and empowering individuals at VOW Peace. Lindsay is thrilled to be a part of the VOW community in an effort to continue their impactful work.
Magritte Gordaneer – Event and Advocacy Assistant
June 2020 – September 2020
Magritte Gordaneer is a current undergraduate student at McGill University studying Political Science and History with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. She has experience and special interest in nuclear and global disarmament topics. Magritte traveled to Hiroshima in 2019 with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to take part in their Global Security and Nuclear Disarmament Academy.
Magritte also lobbied with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) at the Fourth Review Conference of the Landmine Ban Treaty in Oslo as a part of Mines Action Canada. She has organized and campaigned with numerous global and national peace organizations over the course of her career in disarmament. Some of these organizations include World Beyond War and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Canada. Magritte also works with IPPNW Canada part-time assisting programs and members. Magritte helped co-found Students for Peace and Disarmament at McGill University, a first-of-its-kind peace organization on campus. She is also actively involved in multiple student organizations. Magritte is delighted to be working with VOW and assisting in the 75th Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day Memorials across Canada.
Monica Izaguirre-Canales – Advocacy and Research Assistant
June 2020 – September 2020 and Continuning on Occasional Projects
Monica Izaguirre-Canales is an undergraduate student at Carleton University in Ottawa. She is in her third year pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Global and International Studies, Honours Program, Specialization in Global Politics.
Her previous work includes working as a Constituency Intern for a Member of Parliament. In this position, she worked both in the office and attended events with the team. She provided research support on policy issues, responded to constituent’s questions, and drafted responses on all issues related to federal policy.
She is ecstatic to work with VOW and continue her efforts to protect human rights and pursue a career in foreign policy on the international stage.
Samara Lewis – Research and Advocacy Assistant
June 2020 – September 2020
Samara is a recent graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Global and International Studies. She specialized in Global Development and a Minor in African Studies. She will be starting her Masters at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto in the Fall. Samara has worked at a variety of different nonprofits and NGOs both in Canada and abroad. While in Kampala, Uganda, she worked with an organization that aimed to empower women and children through sports and education. Samara is extremely excited to be joining the VOW team as a summer intern.
Sofia Tencer – Research and Advocacy Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Sofia Tencer is a recent graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Global and International Studies with a specialization in Global Law and Social Justice. Sofia is specifically interested in approaching international relations and international legal issues from a critical feminist perspective and placing a gendered lens on social phenomena and academic fields where the impact of gender norms is often neglected.
During her time at Carleton University, she worked and volunteered with various NGOs hoping to implement local change as well as completed a Fourth Year Honours Thesis focused on deconstructing the figure of the female terrorist. Sofia is very excited to be interning with VOW and is passionate about peace building and environmental justice, specifically in relation to refugees and forced migration.
Taya Kendall – Graphic Designer
July 2020 – September 2020
Taya Kendall is a graphic designer studying English Literature at Concordia University. For the past three years, she has been a curator for Sophomore Circuit, an online fanzine that is dedicated to arts and culture and social justice advocacy through a distinctly Gen Z, DIY lens. In doing so, she developed a passion for using graphic design as a medium to convey powerful messages of social justice, intersectional feminism, and youth power. Taya’s strident social justice advocacy stems from her coming of age in Los Angeles in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement as a young black, bisexual woman. Her lived experience has solidified her understanding of the power of grassroots movements in evoking strong socio-political change.
Lia Holla – Research Intern & Assistant to National Coordinator
May 2020 -August 2020
Lia Holla is an undergraduate student at McGill University, where she is studying Political Science and Physics. She has a specific interest in Nuclear Policy, arms manufacturing and trade, disarmament and feminist foreign policy. She is a founder of the organization Students for Peace and Disarmament, a group aiming to end military research and spending on campus. The group also works to create a space for educational discussion about peace and disarmament. Lia is also serving on the board of Directors of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada. She works part-time as the Political Campaigns Coordination of Student’s Society of Mcgill University (SSMU). VOW board Members first introduced Lia to the world of Feminist Peace activism, she is incredibly excited to finally be working with VOW.
Hisha Javeri – Research Assistant/RIMAPC Campaign Lead
July 2020 – September 2020
Hisha Javeri is an undergraduate student at Ryerson University. She is currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration and Governance with a minor in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management. She works with student groups and organizations to address climate change and bring opportunities to refugees and disadvantaged communities in Toronto. Over the years, she has organized and supported the execution of many events keeping stakeholders engaged and informed. Hisha became involved with her city council at an early age, where she focussed on addressing gaps for improvement. As a result, she became passionate to provide equal access to education. She advocates for social equity through her ongoing volunteer work, and has developed a strong interest in international development. Hisha is excited to join the VOW team to further amplify the collective voice to take action towards peace.
Angela Milivojevic – Research and Advocacy Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Angela Milivojevic is an undergraduate student at Concordia University. She is currently working on an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics and Classics. She has worked with several local community groups and organizations and has coordinated and organized protests and events, gone door-to-door, and engaged in social media campaigns to spread awareness of social justice issues. In 2017, she travelled to Guantánamo, Cuba and attended the 5th International Seminar for Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. Angela has always had a great passion for fighting discrimination of all forms. The child of immigrants from former Yugoslavia, she has dedicated her time to learning about the effects of militarization and imperialism and how they contribute to poverty, climate change, and the progress of human rights worldwide. She is thrilled to be working with VOW and to be spreading the message of peace.
Rifa Tamanna – Research and Advocacy Assistant
July 2020 – September 2020
Rifa Tamanna is an incoming undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. She will be pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Management Engineering. She strives to encourage sustainable development and inspire more girls to pursue STEM careers. As a proud Bengali, Muslim woman, Rifa has dedicated herself to amplifying the voices of marginalized groups and creating an equitable society. She has engaged herself within many communities to raise awareness about youth in politics, intersectional feminism, and social justice issues. She has also worked as a Youth Ambassador for Plan International Canada. This experience enabled her to build a deep passion for children’s rights and gender equality. Rifa is ecstatic to work alongside the inspiring individuals of the VOW team to expand her knowledge, advocate for peace, and implement positive change in the community.
Humeira Ahmed – Office Administration
December 2019 – April 2020
Humeira is committed to following her dreams. She started a social initiative called Project Kindness which aims to demonstrate that everyone can show kindness in the simplest of ways. One project,‘A Dress In Need Is A Dress Indeed’ distributed new clothes for 116 children for Christmas. Her experience managing this initiative instilled gratitude and resilience in Humeira. It shaped her as the young individual she is today.
In addition, Humeira was a part of the executive committee of Model United Nations 2019 and was an administrative member in 2018. She was also awarded the where she was awarded the Commendation Award. The enriching experience enhanced her confidence and leadership skills. Through this opportunity she met many people from different backgrounds, which she loves as a self-described people-person.
Humeira values family, friends, faith and helping others. She will be attending the University of Toronto in Fall 2020, with a focus on International Relations and Human Biology.