Four years ago, a nine year old girl heard about how women are treated in Afghanistan at a presentation, and she decided to to take action.
Alaina Podmorow, from Kelowna, started an organization called Little Woman for Little Women in Afghanistan. The organization raises money to pay teacher's annual salaries in the country to encourage education of children, and girls in particular.
"I realized that we (girls) share the same hopes and dreams, but they have so much going against them that they probably wouldn't get to do everything they want to," said Podmorow.
"It's really rewarding for me to do this work, because of the feeling that we really made a difference. It's made me realize that it doesn't matter how old you are, you can make a difference."
Podmorow was in Prince George for the 20th Annual BC Provincial Student Leadership Conference, but she wasn't attending just as a student. Podmorow led a workshop and was one of the guest speakers for the conference.
Other guest speakers such as Kim Plewes from the Me to We movement, Eva Harden from World Vision Canada, co-founder of Leadership Camps Canada Ian Tyson, and Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait from Run for 1 Planet.
Podmorow said she gets nervous before she addresses large crowds, and this past weekend had more than 350 youth, aged 10 to 18, at the conference, held at Prince George secondary.
"I just remind myself that the people are here to listen to me, not to judge me. It's like at the beginning there's this wall built up, but as I start to get into it, the wall breaks down and I forget that I was nervous in the first place," said Podmorow.
At such a young age, Podmorow has already proven to be an outstanding leader, said Donna Brundige, regional director of northern B.C. for the Canadian Federation of University Women.
Brundige first met Podmorow at the CFUW annual general meeting in Ottawa this past July, when Podmorow was involved in a children's rights march.
"We were all very impressed. She has a tremendous amount of poise and grace. She's so natural when she speaks, it's great to have her at these events," she said.
The Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan's main goal is to spread awareness, and shares the motto "Education = Peace." The organization now has 10 chapters across Canada, and several in the United States, with the newest chapter about to open in Montana.
When Podmorow first started fundraising, a teacher's annual salary in Afghanistan was $750. Now, teachers are paid $1,500, something Podmorow said is a great sign of encouragement.
Alaina's mother, Jamie Podmorow, said the best part of watching her daughter speak is the inspiration that is spread to hundreds of other children.
"My favourite part is that she presents, and an hour later I have a ton of new e-mails coming into my Blackberry.
"Hopefully we can set up a chapter in Prince George, who knows," said Jamie.
This year, the BCPSLC focused on three pillars: climate change solutions, poverty solutions and illiteracy solutions. It is the second time the conference was held in the North.
For more information about the Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan, visit their website. littlewomenforlittlewomen.com, or e-mail [email protected].
