The first S!NERGY event in Canada took place over Zoom on December 5th, 2020 which saw around 60 audience members tuning in to the contest. The event began with three presentations and the judges’ comments followed by votes from the judges and the live audience. The word synergy involves the interaction of multiple actors producing a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects and that is what happened with the presentations given and the discussions that followed from the judges as well as the audience members.
The presentations included Rafaela Diaz-Byers and Tabitha Wilson from Arrêter Exploitation Hub (Montreal Initiative), Mariam Ali, Sana Agarwal and Tad Wu from Through Their Eyes (McGill University Club), and Sasha Tarasova from UniteIntoOne (Interfaith Initiative in Toronto).
The panel of judges involved Joanne Viau – a social worker in Montreal, Dr. Franco Famularo – President of UPF-Canada and Hon. Emmanuella Lambropoulos – Member of Parliament for St-Laurent, Montreal.
Arrêter ExploitationHub, an initiative that brings awareness about Sexual Exploitation online, won first place ($400). Through Their Eyes, a university student group that sponsors families in developing countries and brings awareness of the orphan crisis, placed second ($300). Finally, #UniteIntoOne, a program that plans to bring together people of various religious groups to do service work, followed in on third ($200).
YSP Canada is currently being led by a 3 person team with Koshin Young, John Koester and Francois Lacroix. Based on the foundation of a successful first Canada-wide YSP event, the team has expressed expansion plans. By the beginning of 2021, it plans to publish an official website, become a recognized charity group with the Canadian government, and expand the team two-fold.
The young canadian trio thanks those who joined in on the live event, and hopes to see an even bigger turnout next year!
The playback of the event can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM1eQpmms0k