2017 Empowering Newcomer Youth: Peace Emmanuel

Peace Emmanuel is a Grade 12 student at John G. Diefenbaker who came to Canada in 2012 from Nigeria and attended Junior High at Sir John A. MacDonald, where she joined the Mentorship Program.

At first she felt isolated and confused in a new school system and found it difficult to find friends. She says it was when a fellow student told her to join The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth’s Mentorship Program, and then the RBC Youth Empowerment Program that life turned around for her. She found a place to belong and a place to thrive. She has benefited from the support of both programs and now, as a grade 12 student, plans to attend university in the fall for Nursing.

Peace was chosen this year as one of the youth involved in the RBC #Make150Count campaign where she was given $150 and one directive: “to use the money to help communities prosper.”