The other day I sat down with Mai Ngo, another TakingITGlobal staff member and got to know a little more about her. Mai grew up in Ottawa, Canada. She studied Psychology and English at Carleton University and then got her Bachelors of Education at Ottawa University. She is currently working on her Masters in Adult Education and Community Development with collaboration in Comparative International Education. When she is not at the TakingITGlobal offices and not studying, Mai enjoys piano, writing, and traveling.

When Mai was a younger, she started volunteering at the age of 13. She had always imagined doing social work but she never anticipated that it would be technology based. Mai first found TakingITGlobal on Charity Village last August and she applied for the position. However, she decided first to try her hand at teaching. Her career as a Core French teacher lasted for a month until she realized that a position at TakingITGlobal was the way to go. Now, Mai works on Creating Local Connections (CLC), a national outreach program that supports Canadian youth leadership. Her role as the Ontario Project Manager involves being in charge of communications with the team and overseeing everything they do.

Mai feels that the most important issue that youth should pay attention to is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She thinks this because the MDGs cover everything that needs to be achieved, such as elimination of poverty and reaching environmental sustainability. She advises youth that want to get involved to tap into the resources around them. Talk to adults and other youth and ask many questions. She also recommends volunteering wherever you can. And most importantly, visit TakingITGlobal.org!!

Things to Check Out:
• On the website, Mai is part of the project Beyond Graduation. Beyond Graduation, in partnership with Plan Institute, helps youth with disabilities with their transition from school to work. They are currently working to design a website and workshops are to come.
• If given the chance to travel anywhere in the world, Mai chose Peru. She would love to visit the Machu Picchu trails and learn how to speak Spanish.
• This August, Mai is traveling to Quebec for the World Youth Congress. She is looking forward to connecting with youth from all across the world and being inspired from what they accomplish.

Ten years in the future, Mai sees herself working in International development and with youth who are at risk such as street youth.

Mai found Kimia to be the most inspiring person on staff because she works really close with her and she has a great work ethic. Kimia has also managed to become both a great colleague and a great friend to Mai.

In the short time the interview took place, I learned a lot about Mai’s background and what she is currently doing with her career. It can be expected that the world should anticipate great things to come out of Mai’s life.