Petronila Michael
Petronila Michael

Because she knows what poverty feels like, Petronila Michael (Petra) is determined to change lives of marginalized and poor children. Petra (an Ottawa-based Tanzanian) is a Community Development and Cultural Liaison Officer for the Canadian World Education Foundation (CWEF) Tanzania (a Canadian tax-exempt non-profit that provides education sponsorship for vulnerable children in her home country). Petra offers Swahili lessons; cross-cultural trainings; motivational speeches as well as organizing fundraising events; from which the proceedings support CWEF Tanzania sponsorship programs. In the Fall of 2013, Petra raised over $ 2,000 from a powerful fun-filled event Tonight’s for Tanzania (T4T) that pulled together professionals, artists and the general public to celebrate this worthwhile cause. T4T is now an annual event and it takes place every summer/Fall in Ottawa. In the Fall of 2013, Petra presented an insightful cross-cultural training to a group of Canada World Youth that was heading to Tanzania (and donated her stipend to CWEF Tanzania). Most recently, she was in Tanzania with the sponsored students, where she not only delivered impactful motivational speech to the students, but served as a true inspiration to the community.

Petra’s passion is embedded in personal experience and inspired by her own career journey (from Primary school at a small village in Kilimanjaro, to acquiring a Master’s degree at Carleton University). When awarded $ 15,000 scholarship, based on academic excellence, Petra was assured that determination and hard-work pays off. Today, Petra wants to replicate her experiences to children faced with difficult circumstances.  She strongly believes that education brings hope and opens up myriad opportunities in life. She sets an example of giving back to the community  and reminds us to always find ways to share our talents and possessions to those who are in need.

 

Contact Petronila Michael via [email protected]