Alterna recognizes women making a difference

The Alterna Prize for Women Social Change Leaders was established by Alterna Savings in 2018. Two prizes are awarded annually to women students who demonstrate social change leadership at Toronto Metropolitan University or within their community. Simin Rouzgard, a 2020 graduate of sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University, is this year’s recipient from the Faculty of Arts, and third-year nursing student, Hae Jung Rhyoo, is this year’s recipient from the Faculty of Community Services.

Rob Paterson, President and CEO of Alterna, notes that “At Alterna, we want to see more women in leadership roles. For this reason, we use some of our profits to help support young women leaders who, like Alterna, are working to make social change. The Alterna Prize for Women Social Change Leaders and other similar scholarships help position these students for greater success and validate the crucial work they are doing. We are encouraged by and applaud the scholarship recipients for their outstanding work.”

Growing up in Iran with a passion for human rights activism was not easy for Rouzgard. Nevertheless, she chose to study political science and government at Islamic Azad University, and work for Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), a non-governmental organization founded in 2006 to advocate for human rights in the country. Before completing her studies, however, she was forced to flee to Turkey where she lived as a political refugee for a year. She came to Canada in 2011, became a permanent resident, and has continued her activist work ever since.

“The prize means a lot to me,” says Rouzgard, who became a Canadian citizen in 2017. “I was always interested in social justice, but many doors were closed to me as a woman growing up in a traditional, religious, and less privileged community in Iran. More than the financial assistance, the recognition for my efforts has been extremely valuable to me and has made me more determined to fight against human rights violations and educate people about their rights.”

Like Rouzgard, Rhyoo also studied at another university, completing a degree in science at McGill, prior to coming to Toronto Metropolitan University. It was after working with SickKids Hospital that she realized she wanted to become a nurse.

“I didn’t have a clear idea of what nurses do,” explains Rhyoo. “It became clear to me that nurses are the connection between patients and the medicine or treatment they need to get better, and I was inspired by that.”

In addition to wanting to help provide people with the best possible health care, Rhyoo also has a strong desire to help marginalized communities. To that end, she is the cofounder of Refugee Bridge, a volunteer group dedicated to assisting refugees and non-status residents in the GTA. Through her volunteer work she helps by acting as a translator for immigrants for visits with social workers, immigration services, and trips to the hospital. She directs families and individuals to important resources, ensures they are informed of their labour and housing rights, and much more. Rhyoo is also involved within the Toronto Metropolitan University community where she volunteers as a mentor.

“I am so grateful to Alterna for creating this award,” says Rhyoo. “The recognition for the work I am doing means a lot to me and motivates me to keep doing what I am doing and work even harder to contribute to society and social justice.”

Following graduation, Rhyoo intends to work for a couple of years and then become a Nurse Practitioner. Her plan is to eventually work with Indigenous communities or vulnerable populations as a primary caregiver.

Both Rouzgard and Rhyoo are working to build a more equitable society and make the world a better place for marginalized people and communities.

“We are used to acknowledging individual goals, but we sometimes forget to recognize collective accomplishments,” says Rouzgard. “By encouraging those who strive for social change, Alterna is not only making a big difference for the individual, but for the larger community where that person has placed their focus.”