Lauren McDiarmid (commerce)
During her work term at Apex K.K in Tokyo, commerce co-op student Lauren McDiarmid led an impactful movement that not only addressed the critical issue of zero hunger worldwide (UN SDG #2) but also promoted good health and well-being (UN SDG #3) and sought to reduce inequalities (UN SDG #10).
Addressing food insecurity
Lauren chose to organize a food drive in support of Second Harvest, a local food bank in Tokyo, where she successfully raised 56,000¥ JPY and collected six boxes of food items generously donated by the team at Apex K.K.
Executed over a week, the project made meaningful contributions by shedding light on local food scarcity issues and helping families and individuals in need. “The initiative not only provided tangible support but also ignited conversations around food insecurity.
Lauren's work term, funded by Global Skills Opportunity, was part of a new UVic co-op initiative that helps students directly link their work to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
This program, developed in partnership with CIFAL Victoria, a training centre connected to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), provides students who do co-op terms outside Canada with the opportunity to receive UN accreditation for engaging in co-op work terms that advance the UN SDGs as part of their experiences. They must also lead a community-based activity that supports the SDGs in their host country.
The impact of co-op
This journey strengthened Lauren’s cultural intelligence as she navigated the complexities of communicating and executing the food drive within a different cultural context.
While announcing her project, she carefully crafted her message to align with both the food bank’s norms and the cultural expectations of her colleagues. She also shared her experience during the donation stage,
“Recognizing that food preferences and cultural norms vary across regions, it was crucial to tailor the donations to suit the localization pressures of the Tokyo community. For example, understanding that raw seafood and seaweed are staples in Japanese cuisine helped ensure that the donations aligned with the local preferences.”
Leveraging leadership skills
The entire project, from conceptualization to execution, allowed Lauren to leverage her existing leadership skills and cultivate new ones. She unveiled the event during Apex K.K’s company meeting that had around 80 attendees.
“Public speaking was a significant component of this role, as I needed to effectively communicate the purpose, goals, and importance of the food drive. This experience enhanced my ability to convey ideas confidently and persuasively.”
For Lauren, this journey was a doorway to building connections and networking with individuals she otherwise would have not interacted with in her daily life. “This networking aspect enriched my professional and personal connections, enhancing my overall growth and offering a broader perspective on the community’s dynamics in Tokyo,” she explained when reminiscing about her experience.
The food drive project seamlessly aligned with both Lauren’s professional goals, contributing to UN SDG #2’s aim of achieving zero hunger, and her personal goals, fostering leadership and networking skills. This provided Lauren with a holistic experience that only made a positive impact on the community but also propelled her own growth and understanding on the world around her.