This course provided essential insights into human rights and social justice worldwide. It gave me both a foundation and practical knowledge, introducing me to diverse perspectives, especially regarding the devaluation of women and their bodies.
The first Open Learning Outcome I want to share is: “Demonstrate knowledge, through experiential learning, of key human rights and social justice issues locally, nationally, and/or globally.” Being in contact with different women from diverse realities during my practicum changed the way I see them. Understanding how the lack of opportunities and care, together with society’s neglect, unfairly keeps these women in the same oppressive place made the light that was turned on in my mind shine even brighter. This further fueled my desire to be part of the fight against oppression.
Coming from a privileged position, though far from an elite group, this course awakened in me a strong desire to be a bridge between worlds as distant as those of the privileged and the marginalized. With my heart set on diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping women from diverse backgrounds see themselves as valuable is something I continually strive to improve, enabling them to be part of a dignified world where their voices and experiences can transform their reality and open paths to a promising future. The Indigenous and Body Rights classes gave me a deep understanding of discrimination, racism, imposed culture, and the silence of those who see injustice but choose not to act. I was able to delve deeper into social hierarchies and understand that even within the female world, there are privileges based on colour, race, and class, which leave Indigenous and Black women even more invalidated and forgotten.
My final projects for both subjects focused on women’s rights, allowing me to deepen my studies and better understand the gaps in our society. The system is patriarchal, and women are constantly discredited and invalidated, often having their bodies invaded and used, seen simply as labour of love or targets to be conquered. Women must have their voices heard and validated. It is crucial to understand that each of us contributes to the system, and it is urgent to break the stereotypes and biases that, consciously or not, have been ingrained in our lives. This learning gave me more strength to defend women’s rights in a holistic way. Today, with a broader vision, I have a more open heart to listen to and understand each woman’s real needs. I believe this is a powerful tool with a profound and significant impact on healing, generating courage, boldness, hope, and knowledge that can empower women to see themselves as free and capable of changing their futures, together with their children and families.
The second Open Learning Outcome is “Articulate original ideas, arguments and observations through group work and presentations, and high-quality writing or artistic works”. Two courses in which I had the opportunity to express myself and learn more about social justice were those that involved art. Art is soul work, a way for people to express their genuine emotions. Through art, we can connect with people from different backgrounds. Art crosses barriers and speaks directly to all kinds of audiences. One thing I have observed as a powerful way to connect with women who are already hurt and discredited is through art. Art brings joy, positive thoughts, ideas, and creativity, and as a result, helps us move away from our pain. When we face significant life challenges, especially those with complex histories and many obstacles, it is difficult to see our way out or even know how to take the first step to overcome them. People often look at the whole picture and panic when thinking about it. Art is powerful because it awakens feelings that may have been hidden due to fear or shame, thereby facilitating healing.
Empowering women through their talents, which they often do not realize they have, benefits not only them but also the people in their lives, such as family, friends, and supporters. In addition, art can open doors and create opportunities to develop a profession, building the foundation for both economic and emotional autonomy. I had the opportunity to lead a cake design workshop with women from diverse and challenging backgrounds who are still in the process of healing. Watching them design their own cakes, fully immersed, laughing, talking, and enjoying the moment, was priceless. Their creativity blossomed as they connected their designs to their lives and styles, often with their loved ones in mind. I shared my experience with a small home-based business in Brazil, where I baked and decorated cakes and cupcakes. It was a way to capture their attention, fuel their enthusiasm, and inspire their desire to start something of their own. This experience showed that when we believe in ourselves and realize what we are capable of, we open the door to new and promising beginnings.
In a calm, relaxed environment, we can talk about justice and empower women to face their challenges with hope and dignity. They are encouraged to break the silence and stand on their own. This is essential for a promising future free from fear and oppression.
Finally, the third Open Learning Outcome is: “Creatively engage in finding solutions to issues of justice and fairness in contemporary society at a community, provincial, national, and/or global level.”
In the Problem Solving in the Field course, I had the opportunity to write a grant proposal and share an idea for utilizing an existing community garden to create opportunities for women who have lost their financial autonomy (due to abusive relationships, addiction, etc.) to start over professionally. Through the TRU garden, these women could gain knowledge from the university, increasing their potential to return to the workforce and regain autonomy, while also helping TRU maintain the care needed for a sustainable community garden, since there is so much waste of food, especially in the summer season, when most students are away from the university.
By uniting these two worlds, we can create economic opportunities for the community while bringing healing and freedom to these women. Nourishing both the land and the soul, we can cultivate a vibrant future where diverse worlds come together through the bridge of inclusion. It would be a significant opportunity for TRU to demonstrate genuine EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) beyond the academic setting. A true connection with the community can foster a thriving, sustainable local economy in Kamloops.
Additionally, this project can expand knowledge of sustainability within marginalized communities, teaching them to grow and maintain gardens and to produce food for themselves and others in need. It serves as an economic and social solution that bridges the two distinct worlds of academia and marginalized individuals. This project reflects what Cumbers et al. describe as “activities taking place in the gardens… linked to social and use value rather than exchange value,” (Cumbers et al., 2018, p. 134) since it combines healing, empowerment, and skill-building beyond traditional economic measures.
This would also be an opportunity to share an idea globally, inspiring other universities to unite academia with the social realities of their communities. How many women’s lives and families could be transformed by such an initiative? It represents a chance to build a united system with a true sense of diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Reference
Cumbers, A., Shaw, D., Crossan, J., & McMaster, R. (2018). The Work of Community Gardens: Reclaiming Place for Community in the City. Work, Employment and Society, 32(1), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017017695042