Practicum to Nonprofit

How a Social Work alumni and a NorQuest instructor are making global change together.

When alumni Aisha Oboh and Carmen Severight packed their bags in 2011 for an exciting overseas social work practicum opportunity working with impoverished children in Arequipa, Peru, they anticipated that they might be changing lives for the better. What they didn’t anticipate was that their own lives would be transformed in the process.  

Their journey began when their NorQuest social work instructor, Marcia Tait, who had already been fundraising and volunteering in the area for three years, supported and supervised a practicum experience in Peru. While working with Marcia, the two students were struck by the hurdles facing the people they were serving. 

Aisha explains, “in Canada there is a social net, and I know it's a struggle these days, trying to make ends meet. But with what we experienced in Peru, it was a very different ball game. There was no social net, meaning when women with children with disability have to go to the farm to work.... just for probably for the day’s meal…. their children are left alone, the disabled children are left alone in the house, and locked, not because the parents are neglectful, but because they have to survive, they have to eat.” 

The three put their heads together, and even before they came home from their trip, the initial concept for the Standing Up For Peruvian Children Society (SUPC) was born, an organization with a goal to formally continue and grow the work that Marcia and her friends and family had already started. 

“The primary mission is to raise funds in Canada in order to support agencies in Peru, agencies like orphanages, homes for children and adults with developmental disability agencies, agencies that run lunch programs for school age children, and also for therapeutic horseback riding for children and youth with disabilities.” says Aisha. “Standing Up for Peruvian Children is an organization who decides to take action, no matter how small… this is our way of contributing our own bit to make the world a better place.” 

It may be a bit unusual for students and instructors to create an organization together, but the experience has been a positive and ongoing one. “It gives me joy to see the continued passion and commitment they have for continuing to support their practicum agencies, says Marcia. “In addition to Aisha and Carmen, Brandy Berry, who did her practicum in 2016, is also on the Board of SUPC. Both Aisha and Brandy have returned to Arequipa and volunteered at IRID where they did their practicums. Two other former practicum students Christine Murray and Nicole Barrett have supported our fundraiser events.”  

Aisha credits her social work education for opening her world. “Having social work education in NorQuest is one of the wonderful things that happened to me in my professional life, because I get to meet all kinds of people from different cultures, different races and we have to learn together, and it's almost like an interactive kind of learning, which is super cool, because it teaches not just how to self-express, but how to express and give views and contribution on important issues that we’re all affected by. 

But it is also Marcia’s strong mentorship that brought Aisha towards her current career trajectory. “Marcia has always been that open and available kind of human being, who when I told [her] that I’m very interested in international social work, she gets on board, because she’s going to teach me everything. And she did, even when I finished my diploma in NorQuest college…. And here we are. We are colleagues running a not-for-profit organization together, that is quite fulfilling.” 

When asked for one of their biggest success stories as an organization, Aisha points to the impact of simply supporting the costs of daycare and providing seed money to start a small business. “For parents, that have little income or no income, and they're single parents and they do not have the opportunity to go out there and make a living…. We decided, though raising funds…. to support the women to be self-sufficient. So not only do they bring their children to daycare; they now, through social enterprise, start making things for sale. Whoever can weave will weave and sell, whoever can cook will cook and sell, and before you know it, they are self-sufficient. They don't need us anymore because the women are all empowered, they are making money, and their children are safe in daycare. 

But while some of their initiatives make big sweeping changes, they understand the importance of a small changes too. Their funds support everything from school lunches, access to therapy, daycare costs, to housing, and every dollar adds up to make a big difference in the communities they are supporting. And this is where their fundraising efforts come in. 

 “To [the people of Peru, giving back] is a very Peruvian value,” Aisha explains. “They are not people that are beggars, or that come from a begging mentality. They always give back. So, we thought… when we ask people for donation, we have to give something back.” This generosity of spirit is the impetus behind fundraising initiatives that deliver a fun, delicious, and even educational experience such as SUPC’s two major fundraising initiatives, their annual Peruvian Dinner, and their upcoming Latin Music night, which they are busily planning and promoting these days. 

What is in store for us at Latin music night? According to Aisha, we can expect a very special salsa night with a cause. “There [will be] a lot of laughter, a lot of movement, you get to meet people and you get to do something worthy” Marcia adds that Latin Music night is “a night of entertainment, with three different Latin Music groups performing at the Yardbird Suite on October 3rd. In addition to the great music, we’ll have a silent auction of local and Peruvian items.” 

All proceeds from the event will go towards SUPC funded initiatives and agencies in Peru, including Instituto de Rehabilitación Integral para Discapacitados (IRID), a residential Centre for handicapped children, and Cuna Jardin Corazon de Jesus, a centre for children from poor families providing nursery school and kindergarten and after school homework club for older children, Cuna Jardin, and Crines, a therapeutic riding centre.  

Why should we go to Latin Music Night? It’s simple, according to Marcia. Go to “enjoy great music and help make the difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in Arequipa.”  

If you can’t make Latin Music Night this time, stay tuned! The Peruvian Dinner happens every summer, and Latin Music Night is an annual event. Or reach out to SUPC to see how you can get involved in other ways: supsociety@gmail.com. 

Latin Music Night  
October 3, 2024 

Yardbird Suite 

Tickets are only $25, include refreshments, 

All proceeds from the event will go towards SUPC funded initiatives. 

To buy tickets, email Marcia and Aisha at supcsociety@gmail.com