A Reflection on the Role of Technology in Youth-led Social Impact Initiatives

When I founded the Canadian Advisory of Women Immigrants (CAWI), I was not only starting a community organization but a support system that I had always hoped to be a part of. Currently, CAWI is led by young people across Canada, from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, which brings an immensely unique perspective to the work we undertake. While operating as a remote, youth-led national organization comes with its challenges, it has also allowed us to connect with and uplift immigrant women and girls in every corner of the country. Technology has been the bridge that makes this possible, allowing us to collaborate across provinces, amplify voices that are often left out, and co-create meaningful change regardless of geographic distance.

Through the use of technology and the internet, our team has been successful in developing and implementing national mentorship programs, a sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) campaign, as well as our online events to acknowledge important ideas, such as the national women’s day every March. 

Although technology and social media have been instrumental in our work, they have also led us to ask: “Who are we leaving behind when we rely solely on technology?” This question has shaped the way we approach our initiatives. While we continue to leverage digital platforms to reach broader audiences, we’ve also prioritized accessibility, cultural relevance and linguistic inclusion in our work. For example, our SRHR Education Toolkit is being translated into multiple languages and is distributed through both digital and community-based channels. Additionally, when appropriate, we also work with local organizations and community leaders to ensure our efforts meet people where they are — not just online, but in physical spaces and lived realities.

As we mark International Youth Day this year, I am reminded that young people are not just the future but they are also the present. At CAWI, we see every day how youth, especially those from immigrant and refugee backgrounds, are leading transformative work. Building bridges across borders, and challenging systems that were never built for us, including navigating a new world where technology is shaping everything we do. 

Bio

Hani Rukh-E-Qamar is the Founder of the Canadian Advisory of Women Immigrants (CAWI), a community initiative dedicated to empowering immigrant women. Hani completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Science in Epidemiology and a Graduate Certificate in Translational Biomedical Science Research at McGill University, where she engaged with the McGill Dobson Cup and the Health Tech Innovation Lab with Mayo Clinic. This year, Hani is pursuing Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Hani is passionate about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which led her to be a Co-Chair of CanWaCH’s Youth Working Group , a previous Youth Advisor for UNICEF Evaluation, and a Strategy, Investment and Policy Committee member at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Hani has experience in qualitative and quantitative health research, on topics such as access to health care, youth mental health, digital health, health education and point-of-care technologies. Hani has had the privilege of representing Canada at international forums, such as the Commission on Population and Development, as well as the ECOSOC Youth Forum.

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