The OLIP Interns had the distinct honour of meeting the British Consul General in Toronto, Fouzia Younis, MBE!
We were warmly welcomed into her home and had the pleasure of partaking in a traditional British tea, particularly enjoyable for those of us who have never had the chance to experience it before! Many of us are hoping to have more British teas when we visit for our study tour at the end of June.
Our conversation allowed us to discuss and explore the ties between the UK and Canada, but we also learned about the UK’s relationship with other commonwealth countries! The Consul General also explained to us her interpretation of her role, whereby she highlighted her passion for youth and youth educational programs, like ours. She explained to us that she first began as an intern with the Foreign and Commonwealth office, providing us with a great example as we consider our futures ahead of the programme!
We greatly appreciated her enthusiasm, as not only does it give us the chance to hold discussions like this one, but also because her enthusiasm underscored our entire meeting! Ms. Younis shared with us her experience as a Muslim woman in her role and was very candid about both the challenges she faces and the insight her identity provides her. She advised us to always be true to ourselves and embrace all of the ample opportunities that come our way. We thank Ms. Younis for her hospitality and her advice to us as we look to our next steps, and we look forward to seeing her again once we arrive in the UK!
