Education Canada Project #15874

Inspiring Futures: AboutFace Scholarship Program

by AboutFace

Inspiring Futures: AboutFace Scholarship Program

Project Report | Oct 6, 2015
Meet AboutFace Scholarship winner Katarina!

By Emily Rivers | Project Leader

Cheque presentation with Katarina

I became involved in AboutFace when I was 7 years old, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Through AboutFace, I learned to become more comfortable in my own skin and love myself for who I am. It gave me the chance to meet peers who could understand the struggles I was facing when it came to dealing with a facial difference. Being a part of AboutFace has been a life changing experience, allowing me to see the world in a different perspective. The organization has provided me with the support I needed when I hit low points in my life. Just knowing that support was available when I needed it has helped me to be successful in my life. Throughout the years I have taken part in many AboutFace activities such as Family Days, bowling, roller-skating and Camp Trailblazers. Going to camp was one of the best decisions I have ever made and the memories will stay with me forever. I have also taken part in many activities through Sick Kids, such as Girl's Stuff and Film 101. Most recently I spoke on the panel at Sick Kid's Jaw Surgery Information Session.

I was an attendee the year before and found it very helpful in preparing for my jaw surgery. I felt it was very important to offer my own experience with the surgery as others had done for me. Presently I am doing leadership training, which will enable me to return to Camp Trailblazers this year as a volunteer. One of the tasks for working on my leadership skills was attending a dental conference and helping to run a table. I will be attending the Adult Retreat this month and I am very excited. I hope that by staying involved in AboutFace, I can give back everything that they have given me.

In addition to AboutFace, I have been involved with Girl Guides of Canada. Through Girl Guides, I have taken part in many different activities, camps, and competitions. Some of my biggest accomplishments were winning a national photography competition, receiving the Chief Commissioner's Gold Award, and becoming a Junior Leader this year. Through Girl Guides, I have participated in various community service projects including volunteering for both international and environmental projects. I have also taken part in numerous City of Brampton events, which has given me the opportunity to volunteer in my home community. The many environmental projects I have done in Girl Guides sparked my interest in the environment and lead me to get involved with the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). I have been volunteering with CVC for the past few years; first in the Conservation Youth Corps (CYC) summer program, then as a Frontline member and now as a part of their Frontline Executive Team. This semester I am at CVE for my co-op placement and it has been an amazing experience. I am now looking forward to attending York University in September for their Environmental Studies program.

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Jul 23, 2015
AboutFace Scholarship 2015

By Colleen | Client Services and Program Manager

Apr 21, 2015
"Believe me, no one is alone."

By Emily Rivers | Manager, Communications and Database

Ruaridh

I have always been a bit of a different person. When I was in Elementary school, my family lived in a small town in Saskatchewan. When other kids were going to hockey practice I was going to theatre class. When other kids were watching TSN, I was practicing violin. The biggest difference between my school acquaintances and I was the fact that I was born with a cleft lip and palate. From about grade two to grade seven I was bullied continuously because of my slight facial difference. There are two things that got me through that time in my life: theatre, and the access I had to AboutFace. Both of these things gave me the message that I was not alone. When I was born my mom became a member of AboutFace. The access to newsletters and the website gave me hop. All of the inspiring stories and exposure to the lives of other kids with facial differences showed me that there were many people out in the world who looked like I do. The information was also a huge inspiration for me when I was in and out of the hospital for surgeries, and I know it helped my parents get through it too.

Later on in my elementary school life when the bullying had reached a peak, my mom gave a presentation to my entire class about facial differences and why it was not acceptable to make fun of somebody because of it. AboutFace was a big inspiration to her and she used several of the newsletters and materials from the website to present to the class. After she did that, my entire school life changed dramatically. The education that my classmates got was invaluable and made my school life a lot easier. I don’t know where I would be without that presentation.

Theatre, the other lifesaver, has had a profound effect on me. Performing in the theatre has been a difficult, taxing, satisfying endeavor. I love performing but it took me a long time to get over my fear of having people see my cleft lip and palate on stage. When I finally got over it, it was very liberating. I perform all over the city now in improve shows, musicals, and plays. Theatre has taught me to face my fears and has given me some of the best experiences of my life. Recently I began teaching it through the Conservatory of Performing Arts in Regina. This opportunity has let me give other kids the same freedom I had to get up in front of people and who them who you are. My favourite moment was having two kids who had been in and out of the foster system perform a rap, which they had written about their experiences in life. One of them described that it was “so cool” to be able to express their frustrations and hopes through art. I totally connected with how they felt.

Next year I plan to begin a theatre career by taking fine arts classes at the University of Regina. I could not be more excited. I would not be embarking on this career if it hadn’t have been for the confidence and support that AboutFace has given me over the years. Stephen Sondheim wrote: “Believe me, no one is alone.” AboutFace has shown me that is true.

Written by: Ruaridh

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