Catalyste+ Advisor
I consider myself very fortunate to have been accepted as an advisor for Catalyste+. Catalste+ is a Canadian economic development organization that helps people build better lives by strengthening local economies in Canada and in developing countries around the world since 1967. In 2024 I completed 4 projects in Peru/Spain, Guyana, Ghana, and Iqaluit - 2-in person and 2 virtual. Each assignment is unique based on the client needs and regardless of what the desired outcome is, the fulfillment and reward for me cannot be measured.
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“I have never met someone who helped me understand myself to such a high degree and she does it without judgement. For that I will always be grateful.” Student – Guyana - WAD
“You have made us feel loved, valued, understood, seen, and heard. I don’t know how you are able to see our gifts after only meeting us for 1 hour, but I never knew my gifts until I met you.”
Student – Guyana – WAD
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“Mia, thank you for everything. I am at a loss of words for the passion with which you are working to support our work. I am forever most grateful. May God bless your efforts. Thank you!”
Amos Seido – Ghana, West Africa – CRIS Organization
"I create a ripple effect on the world around me."
Ghana, West Africa
CRIS Organization
I was blessed to spend 16 days in a remote part of Ghana, West Africa working with the Centre for Rural Improvement (CRIS) organization. They required digital marketing and business guidance to help support the farming cooperatives with their mission of ending child pregnancy and illiteracy. I developed a social media presence for them which included both Facebook and Instagram, while at the same time updating and enhancing their website and logo, and introducing them to the power of storytelling.
I spent time with over 175 of the women of the organization to understand their primary needs and to share their story with the outside world. Although we had many challenges with technology and payment platforms, I felt the work made a significant impact during my time.
It was an exceptionally rewarding assignment.
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"Mia, your dedication and compassion were unmatched. We are so grateful for all of your expertise, time, wisdom, and hardworking on behalf of all of the women of the CRIS Organization."
Guyana, South America
WAD Organization
I was fortunate to spend 17 days in Georgetown, Guyana working with WAD – Woman Across Differences educating a group of female students on business strategy and empowerment training.
I worked with 12 students who were preparing to start their own business or expand their current business. The coaching part of the assignment was to help them understand how to tap into their true potential, so their businesses and home life would have a high value and successful outcome.
The entrepreneurial training included business strategies, social media expectations, creating a vision, mission, and strategy foundation, understanding how to manage complex change and growth, understanding the importance of branding and more.
I completed 5 days of workshops with the women followed by 5 days of private sessions to work with each student individually on both the personal and professional part of their goals.
It was an exceptionally rewarding assignment.
Leymebamba, Amazonas, Peru
I had the amazing good fortune of meeting Marilyn Velásquez in March 0f 2023. We spent a year working on strategies that would take her slow mindful eco travel company to the next level. It was an extremely interesting assignment because we initially worked through an interpreter who spoke both English and Spanish. As we got to know each other better, we realized we could make do with our language barrier because our visions and values were very similar.
Marilyn offers specialized tours in her home region of Leymebamba, Amazonas, Peru BUT she lives in Spain. So we also had to add in the complication of a 3rd country.
As we progressed working together Marilyn also shared her enthusiasm around creating mandalas and we were able to also create her latest project called mandalas.y.mindfulness which is a creative teaching arena for sharing the art of mandalas and their meanings. You can visit Marilyn at www.nuevoscaminostravel.com. Thank you Marilyn for your beautiful inspiration.
Myanmar - formerly BURMA
Working virtually with 50 participants through 2 translators was a challenging but rewarding assignment. The project was 2-tiered focusing half the session time on leadership and mindset training and the second half of each session on how to apply this knowledge to their social media platforms.
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These participants are the next generation of leaders and mentors who are looking to create positive and lasting impacts on their community and their peers.
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They are lively, committed, motivated, and inspiring to work with and it's an honour to spend a few hours each week with them. To watch them grow into their potential and to create their desired reality.
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"Mia, I am writing to express our deepest gratitude for your commitment to our organization. Your willingness to share your expertise and time, especially during this time of great adversity in the country, is truly inspiring. The students are truly fortunate to have you as their coach. thank you once again for your generosity of spirit and unstinting support." Maung Thein Tun - Lulin Thitsar Organization
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
I spent 3 weeks in various parts of Cambodia working with 25 provinces of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Department of Information to increase the knowledge and skills of all in-charge staff, particularly female staff, to use social media in effective ways. With this improved knowledge and skills, they will be able to contribute to the achievement of digital transformation in their government.
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In particular: women's economic empowerment; improving the education of women and girls; improving the health of women and girls; prevention of violence against women and girls; women in leadership, and gender mainstreaming.
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"To my teacher – you make us feel love. Thank you for you 3 weeks in Cambodia to share. We miss you now.”
Come back soon to see more about my latest destination and what this experience was about.
Next Destination - More Details Soon
Next Destination - More Details Soon
Come back soon to see more about my latest destination and what this experience was about.
Next Destination - More Details Soon
Come back soon to see more about my latest destination and what this experience was about.
