Ontario: Student Journeys
Here are some stories of SSE Fellows from around the world.
Junior Smart
S.O.S Gangs Project
Turning your life around is not an easy thing to do. Junior has succeeded not only at changing his life, he is also making a huge difference in the life of others.
While in custody of Her Majesty, Junior Smart had the idea for a tailor made package of support to assist individuals in attempting to stop the cycle of crime in their lives. Junior seeks to engage young people one on one and assist them in their decision to live a better life. His goal is to empower each person and provide the tools necessary for that person to escape gang life, and to provide the support and mentoring needed to guide each individual to achieve his or her goals.
Isabella Quigley Moriarty
Menopause Self Care
Isabella Quigley Moriarty is an SSE fellow and has created and established a social enterprise promoting health and well being for women in premenopause and menopause.
Isabella had a vision. She had studied the issues of the menopause such as depression, lack of motivation, and absence from work and believed that effective self care and support could make a dramatic positive impact on women’s lives. She set up Menopause Self Care which offers information and experiential learning on the emotional, mental, and physical dimensions of ‘The Change’ to women in their fifties.
Jacquie Johnston-Lynch
The Brink
The Brink is an innovative health conscious bar, cafe, and entertainment venue promoting abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
Approximately 75% of the Brink Workforce is made up from people in recovery. It provides training and job opportunities for people in recovery; meeting space is also available as are seminars, lectures, and workshops. The food is fabulous, and with the warmest welcome ever, the Brink has definitely captured the imagination, admiration and support of thousands, especially after a visit from the Duchess of Cambridge who is patron of their charity Action on Addiction.
Leah McPherson
Cultivate London
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Leah moved to London in 2005 after working with the homeless and drug and alcohol users. She thought up the idea for Cultivate London after living in cities her whole life. Cultivate London aims to enable communities to generate and consume locally grown produce and encourage development of local economies by providing young and unemployed people free horticulture training and apprenticeships.
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Stu Williams
Community Radio Station
Stuart Williams lost his sight five years ago. He was interested in radio and had cut his teeth as a community radio volunteer at the UK's Falmouth Source FM, but "DJ Stoo" had ideas of setting up a community radio project in his own home town of Redruth.
In its first three months, the station, which broadcasts daily, has already engaged with almost 30 volunteers who include unemployed, chronically ill, and disabled people. The station also offers opportunities for accredited training– with eight people already receiving sound and audio qualifications.