As a child, Ayiko Solomon (BA ’08) endured unspeakable horrors during the civil war in Uganda. Shaped by that experience, and inspired by his studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, he founded Peace for All International, a non-profit agency dedicated to building peace, promoting healing and creating sustainable development in northern Uganda and Nepal.

Dr. Quincy Almeida
For Quincy Almeida, research isn’t just about discovery — it’s about making a difference for those suffering with movement disorders. In 2005, Almeida opened the Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre to help people suffering from diseases such as Parkinson’s. A primary objective of the centre, which was recently renamed the Sun Life Financial MDRC in recognition of the company’s support, is to understand brain dysfunction associated with several movement disorders, and then translate this knowledge into the development of rehabilitation strategies and novel inventions that have the potential to improve patients’ movement control. Many of Almeida’s patients have experienced remarkable results, and his ongoing research means that other people struggling with Parkinson’s will be able to enjoy more active and fulfilling lives.

Joanna Harries
Joanna Harries (BBA ‘03, MBA ’08) first learned about “social enterprise” during her business studies at Laurier. She went on to a successful career in consumer products, but remained passionate about supporting social causes through business. Today, Harries is director of international expansion for Endeavor Global, a not-for-profit that seeks to strengthen emerging economies by supporting high-impact entrepreneurs.

Bharati Sethi
Social work PhD student Bharati Sethi came to Canada from India in 1994. Inspired by her own struggle to become a Canadian citizen, she is now helping others through her community-based research on immigrant issues. Her commitment to social justice has earned her several prestigious awards, including a Hilary M. Weston Scholarship and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.