By Kingsley Alozie, Youth Ambassador for the Atlantic region
Hired seasonally under a program that commemorates a former executive director of Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada (DPCC), our youth ambassadors serve as spokespersons for and leaders of our youth awareness and engagement efforts. As part of these duties, Kingsley Alozie participated in the Youth Stream of From Aid to Action, the 50th anniversary symposium of the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC), that was held in Halifax, N.S., from June 17-19, 2025.
Attending the youth symposium of the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) was a powerful and transformative experience for me, both as a PhD student in linguistics focusing on marginalized Indigenous languages and as DPCC’s youth ambassador for the Atlantic region. The three-day event brought together youths, advocates and experts to explore the evolving landscape of international development, justice and youth engagement through a feminist and community-centered lens.
Experiences of a youth ambassador: Day 1 – Introductions, connections and youth dialogue
The symposium kicked off with vibrant introductions that allowed us to share our identities, goals and the roles we play as young change-makers in our respective communities. It was inspiring to meet and exchange ideas with youth leaders from across Canada and abroad, particularly students from Romblon State University in the Philippines. Our interactive sessions allowed us to explore shared challenges in community development and education, as well as unique cultural insights that enriched our collective perspectives.
These cross-cultural exchanges reminded me of the power of solidarity and the importance of youth inclusion in shaping sustainable futures. As someone working on the preservation of Indigenous languages, I felt that this interaction reinforced the global relevance of our local efforts and how language and culture intersect with justice, development and peacebuilding.
Day 2 – Global aid, reconciliation and feminist foreign policy
We began with a land reflection honouring the Mi’kmaq territory, grounding us in the ongoing journey of reconciliation. This resonated with my academic focus, as language revitalization plays a key role in reconciliation efforts.
The session by ACIC youth program manager Jackie Dowling on youth in international cooperation emphasized the need for youth voices in decision-making, a point that directly affirms my advocacy work with DPCC. A presentation on official development assistance (ODA) by Gabrielle Bardall, an assistant professor of political science at Université Sainte-Anne, was enlightening. It clarified the workings of myths around global, and the distinctions between multilateral and bilateral aid. These insights sharpened my understanding of foreign aid and helped me critically evaluate how international support can either empower or undermine local communities.
Ambassador Lilly Nicholls addressed Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, celebrating its support for grassroots women’s initiatives while also highlighting its flaws, such as uncoordinated implementation and underfunding. I was particularly struck by the critique of Canada’s contradictory role in global justice. Even as it speaks of promoting justice abroad, Canada benefits from exploitative systems like fast fashion and mining in the Global South. This tension mirrors the realities that DPCC seeks to confront by urging us to call out injustice regardless of where it originates.
Day 3 – Food sovereignty, accountability and political change
The third day emphasized funding, partnerships and localization, particularly through poster presentations that highlighted work being done in the Atlantic region. The discussion on food systems and seed preservation in Guatemala echoed themes of cultural and linguistic preservation, which are central to my research and advocacy. The call for food sovereignty challenged industrial agribusiness models and instead centered community knowledge much like the call to preserve Indigenous linguistic and cultural systems.
Sessions such as Aid, Agency and Accountability: The African Experience and Navigating Political Change for Global Justice shed light on grassroots leadership and how young people can redefine narratives in postcolonial contexts. A case study on Haiti emphasized the importance of training youths to lead with a vision for justice. It reaffirmed my belief in bottom-up development and the importance of localized, youth-driven leadership.
Final reflections from a youth ambassador
This symposium provided a rich avenue for the convergence of my professional and advocacy life. It deepened my commitment to advancing Indigenous linguistic justice while amplifying the voices of the underserved in global development conversations. As a linguist and a youth ambassador, I left empowered to bridge academic research and community action through storytelling across cultures, engaging ethically and advocating fearlessly for equity and inclusion.
This experience will continue to shape how I teach, research and organize for justice locally and globally.