Aditya Chaudhuri

My work promoting gender equality is fueled by the understanding that women make up roughly 50% of the world’s population, so gender inequality means that same percentage of world’s potential is held back. Some of my highlights with EWB have been working with Mining Shared Value to persuade the global mining industry to increase local procurement on projects, ensuring women are valued for their skills and abilities and offered equal opportunities; meeting with MPs to encourage foreign investments in women-owned and led companies in developing countries; and, helping plan the 2017 Kumvana Gala that brought together local organizations and leaders to celebrate and empower women in Calgary and around the world. Having a focus on SDG 5: Gender Equality in all my work is important because it helps connect the advancement of all other SDGs. I consider it like stepping into a two-player game with only one player unlocked—you just won’t win the game.

I’d like to see a lot changed by 2030, including the achievement of all the SDGs. Many of the solutions are connected to each other, just like the problems they stem from. Seeing young people concerned and passionate about changing the world gives me hope that we stand a chance. By 2030, I would like to see all leaders in power be free of corruption and lead with citizens’ best interests in mind. It might sound cheesy, but I want the world to become a utopia.