Dear Friends,
My name is Makailah Paul, and I am the ambassador for OJEN’s 2024 annual year-end fundraising campaign. Today, I’m writing to ask you to join me in supporting justice education initiatives that empower youth across the province – initiatives that have shaped my own journey.
I am a second-year undergraduate student at York University, and my connection to OJEN began during high school. I have spent the past two summers interning with OJEN, first as a high school student and then as a Youth Project Officer. OJEN has given me incredible opportunities to challenge myself, develop new skills, and contribute meaningfully to their work.
One of the most impactful projects I worked on was helping to develop a new youth section for the OJEN website. The new Youth Corner will ensure that young people have access to clear and engaging legal information and resources, no matter where they live. I attended focus groups and collaborated with the design team. I also researched and curated relevant topics. The project has been incredibly rewarding, as it empowers youth to be more informed, and encourages them to seek help where needed.
Another highlight was contributing to the Summer Law Institute, OJEN’s professional development conference for high school law teachers. This experience allowed me to collaborate with dedicated educators and legal professionals to create informative workshops. The feedback we received from attendees highlighted how much these programs equip teachers to engage students with the law.
Working with OJEN has made me realize the incredible impact that a small team with a big vision can have. Helping youth build skills to navigate legal issues makes a difference for thousands of youth every year. I am one of them. I am more confident than ever that my dream of attending law school will become a reality.
OJEN is great at making a little go a long way, but they can do so much more. Your donation – whether big or small – matters! Donations can be directed to programs that need it most and allow OJEN to respond to program requests that would otherwise not be possible.
As a charitable not-for-profit organization, OJEN will provide a tax receipt for all gifts over $20. Please consider making a gift today to help OJEN continue empowering youth through justice education.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Makailah