WINNIPEG, MB – They come from opposite sides of the globe and backgrounds, yet two University of Winnipeg youth united by a tireless passion to create a more just world will share centre stage as they win human rights awards on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Chelsea Caldwell, a third year student at The University of Winnipeg and Muuxi Adam, a 4thyear economics student and one of UWinnipeg’s first Opportunity Fund students, are recipients of the 2012 Annual Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award. The Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission give out the awards annually in celebration of International Human Rights Day.
Muuxi Adam
Muuxi arrived in Winnipeg as a teenage refugee from Somalia, struggling to overcome the effects of working 16-hour days without pay in a garage fixing cars. He received a fast-track bursary through UWinnipeg’s Opportunity Fund and is now studying economics and international development. Today he is employed as the After School Program Coordinator at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba and is married with two young sons.
Chelsea has been an active human rights champion since high school and is now a campus leader with UWinnipeg’s Global College Student Advisory Council and a volunteer with the Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan.
The Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award recognizes the work of a person or group of people, 25 years old and under who has had an impact on the advancement of human rights as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and human rights legislation in Manitoba. Also receiving the youth award this year is Ayla and Van Hamilton from Russell, Manitoba.
Everyone is welcome to attend the award reception at the United Way Building, 580 Main Street, on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. There is no charge, but people must register at http://manitobahumanrightsawards.eventbrite.ca
BACKGROUND
Muuxi Adam is the After School Program Coordinator at the Immigrant and Refugee Community organization of Manitoba. Muuxi is a former Somali refugee who came to Winnipeg in late 2004 and is involved in working with the newcomer communities in Manitoba. He serves on a number of boards and committees in Winnipeg including the Recreation Task Force of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council and the Manitoba Ethno Cultural Advisory and Advocacy Council.
Muuxi has extensive experience working with immigrant and refugee communities in Winnipeg’s inner city focusing mainly on settlement issues, gang and street crime prevention and employment opportunities for newcomer youth.
Muuxi is a community leader who is passionate about working with youth and their families and is also a filmmaker who produced “Ray of Hope” an inspiring documentary of courage and luck. “Ray of Hope is a positive and hopeful film that uses stories to go beyond the borders of ethnicity and age to address those issues we hold in common — family, personal dignity, and community responsibility.” said the National Film Board of Canada’s Joe MacDonald, who acted as a mentor on the film.
Chelsea Caldwell
Chelsea Caldwell is a third year student at the University of Winnipeg and is already a veteran of human rights awareness. During her years at St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, Chelsea was an active member of the school’s human rights team and co-Chaired the group in her senior year.
In her second year of university, Chelsea was elected to the position of Status of Women Director for the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association. Currently Chelsea is a Co-Chair for the Global College Student Advisory Council and helps lead weekly group meetings that help to organize events and encourage students to engage in activities pertaining to human rights at a local and global level.
Chelsea has also been on the planning committees for the 2011 Take Back the Night’ March, the 2012 International Women’s Day March, and International Women’s Week activities. She is also helping to form the Winnipeg chapter for Canadian Voice of Women for Peace’s, aiding in the formation of a new group, Manitoba Women Moving Forward, formerly known as UNIFEM, and she volunteers for the local chapter of Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan.
MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
