.png)
Stories of Change
Stories of Change highlight the real-life impact of SCIC’s work by sharing how individuals, communities, and organizations experience meaningful transformation through global citizenship initiatives. These stories bring complex change to life — showing shifts in knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, confidence, and leadership — and demonstrate how our programs and partnerships help make that change possible.
By connecting project activities to personal experiences, Stories of Change illustrate how our theory of change works in practice and why global cooperation matters.
Each story offers a window into the journeys of those driving progress across Saskatchewan and beyond.
Munatas (Taz) Mohamed
In 2025, Taz participated in the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Forum in Ottawa as a youth delegate representing SCIC. The Forum brought together senior leaders and emerging changemakers from across Canada to reflect on the future of international cooperation and how the sector can work more collaboratively and inclusively to respond to global challenges.
Before attending, Taz’s work was grounded in local, community-based spaces and her university, where she was actively engaged in social justice, advocacy, and youth representation. While she was already part of these conversations, stepping into a national leadership forum initially felt intimidating. Surrounded by experienced leaders, she questioned whether her voice would carry the same weight.
​
The Forum became the experience that shifted this perspective. Through intergenerational dialogue and open conversations with sector leaders, Taz began to see that youth perspectives are not supplementary — they are essential. Engaging in national-level discussions helped her understand how grassroots advocacy and lived experience connect directly to policy, decision-making, and international cooperation.
​
The most meaningful change came in how Taz understood her role within the sector. Rather than viewing leadership as something to work toward later, she now sees youth participation as something that should happen now. Since the Forum, she has remained engaged in youth-led and community-based initiatives, applying what she learned and encouraging other young people to see themselves as capable contributors to meaningful change.
Today, Taz moves forward with greater confidence, clarity, and a strengthened commitment to inclusive and representative approaches to international cooperation.
Syndel Thomas-Kozar
In July 2025, Syndel, a youth Indigenous advocate first joined SCIC by attending Generating Momentum, Saskatchewan’s youth summit for bold changemakers rooted in global justice, gender equality, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Before attending, her work was centered on local and national Indigenous youth wellness, identity-based policy, and gender equity. She had strong community relationships and experience advocating in Indigenous spaces, yet had not fully connected this work to international movements or viewed herself within the global landscape.
Generating Momentum became the opportunity that shifted this view, “The biggest change I experienced through Gen Mo was a shift in how I understood my work in relation to global citizenship and international cooperation”
Through interactive learning spaces, workshops on advocacy, and dialogue with peers and mentors, they began to recognize that her community-rooted work was not separate from broader global movements. Conversations about Indigenous rights, youth empowerment, and social equity helped her understand how these issues are embedded within the SDGs and are part of international cooperation efforts. The experience built new confidence, broadened her perspective, and deepened her sense of belonging in global spaces.
​
The most meaningful change came in how Syndel understood her role: community-based Indigenous advocacy is global change-making. With that realization, she began pursuing international opportunities, eventually being selected as a delegate for CSW70 at the United Nations which is an opportunity she attributes directly to the confidence, clarity, and network that emerged during GenMo. What began as a single gathering has now become an ongoing partnership with SCIC, grounded in shared values and mutual support. Today, Syndel feels empowered not only to advocate locally, but to shape conversations at national and global levels and carry forward the understanding that community-driven change contributes to international progress.