Manitoba Youth Delegate at the 2025 Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Forum

In October 2025, the Inter-Council Network (ICN) brought youth delegates from across Canada to Ottawa for the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Forum. Each youth represented their province or region and Mapenzi Mirimba  attended as the Manitoba youth delegate.

The Forum brings experienced leaders and young changemakers together to talk about the future of international cooperation. Over three days, participants joined open discussions, workshops, and learning sessions about partnership, justice, and meaningful global action.

Here is what Mapenzi shared about her experience.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you are connected to MCIC’s work toward a more just world?

Mapenzi: I’m a fourth-year Chemistry and Biochemistry double major at Dalhousie University. I resettled in Canada as a refugee when I was eleven, and that experience shaped my values of resilience, inclusion, and community support. I’m passionate about science, health, and equitable opportunities for youth, and a lot of my work focuses on bridging gaps in education and empowerment.

I volunteer with Together for a Strong World Inc., one of MCIC’s member organizations, where I help deliver programs that connect youth with global development issues. Through research, tutoring, and community engagement, I try to inspire young people to see themselves as changemakers, regardless of financial barriers. As an ICN Youth Delegate, I was grateful for the chance to bring a Manitoba youth perspective to the 2025 Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Forum and return with strategies to strengthen youth-led initiatives in our communities.

Q: How did it feel to attend the Leaders’ Forum as a youth delegate?

Mapenzi: I felt really welcomed. I got to share where I’m from and what matters to me — my community, my story, and the work that inspires me.

One thing someone said that really stayed with me was, ‘Our lived experience is a powerful knowledge to share.’ That reminded me that leadership isn’t just about positions or titles. It’s also about the experiences we carry.

Q: What were some key ideas you learned from the sessions?

Mapenzi: I learned that cooperation is not charity — it is partnership. It’s people and organizations coming together to create meaningful change. It’s about deepening impact, not just growing institutions.

It pushed me to think more critically about what effective cooperation really means. It made me realize that young people, including myself, have a place in shaping these conversations.

Q: Was there a moment that changed how you see leadership?

Mapenzi: Yes. I realized that not making a decision is still a decision — and that decision can affect people’s lives. Leadership requires courage, especially when the choice feels uncomfortable.

True leadership is not about perfection. It’s about responsibility, awareness, and the willingness to grow.

Q: How did this experience shape your confidence as a young leader?

Mapenzi: This experience gave me renewed hope. It strengthened my understanding of what global cooperation looks like in practice — leadership that bridges people and communities. Leadership rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a shared vision for a better world.

I came back feeling more determined to be part of conversations that promote justice, equity, and meaningful cooperation.

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The Inter-Council Network and Cooperation Canada continue to create space for youth voices in national conversations about global issues. Mapenzi’s experience shows how powerful it can be when young people are included, heard, and supported in leadership spaces.