Renee Vaugeois is a small town farm girl. She is an example of someone who has moved beyond the boundaries of rural Alberta to become a change leader and advocate for those at the margins of society in Alberta and around the world.  In her efforts to address injustice and inequality, Renee has made it her life’s work to break the chains of apathy and open people’s eyes… to take them beyond their box to view the world through the eyes of others and to build a world that is compassionate.   She has a true passion and belief not only in the human spirit and the dignity of all people, but the value of human relationships. After her first experiences in Uganda in 1999, Renee has since founded the Ainembabazi Children’s Project, a local organization focused on improving the rights of orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS through education, health and poverty alleviation.  She is also the Executive Director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights where her daily work is focused on advancing the rights of marginalized communities in our own back yard, such as Aboriginal peoples and immigrant and refugee youth.  She has her Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta in the area of international relations and has had the experience of managing various international projects in Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Bosnia, Ukraine, South Africa, Russia and China for both the University of Alberta and the Government of Alberta.