A visionary and a passionate individual who understands the hardship International students and immigrants in Canada from India, Pakistan and Uganda face and keeping that in mind she has pioneered an impactful venture called “Re-Defined”.
Her journey is one woven with a profound desire to empower marginalized communities, specifically those navigating the complexities of immigration and studying abroad.
- Fostering Empowerment
At the core of the Re-Defined lies a mission to dismantle barriers obstructing the progress of International students and immigrants in the Canadian landscape. Recognizing the impediments these individuals often face in securing employment commensurate with their qualifications, Ritika strategized Re-Defined to counter this plight in two pivotal ways.
Firstly,Re-defined focuses on enhancing access to upskilling opportunities. Ritika understands the formidable challenge presented by limited job market entry, leading many talented individuals to secure minimum wage positions or labor-intensive jobs that fail to reflect their expertise. To address this, Re-Defined provides avenues for skills development, offering certification financial support for educational pursuits and comprehensive programs encompassing networks events, mentorship initiatives, fellowships, scholarships and recognition programs.
The objective is not only to motivate but also to equip individuals with the tools and resources necessary to advocate themselves in the competitive job markets.
- Community impact initiatives
Re-Defined actively engages the community through regular collaborative endeavors. Bringing international students and immigrants together, they organize impactful social initiatives that cater to the community’s needs. Whether assembling care packages for those in need or providing winter clothing, projector, books and basic amenities for the students and food donations to women shelters. Re-defined is committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
- Inspiration and Driving forces
Ritika’s Inspiration to launch this initiative stems from her own experiences as an International student in Canada. Having encountered similar challenges, she recognized the scarcity of adequate support systems and decided to create a community herself, where students would find a sense of belonging away from home. Driven by her priority to make a meaningful impact in people’s life, Saraswat laid the foundation of Re-Defined motivated by a deep-seated commitment of helping others.
- Empowering through collaboration
To further its cause, Re-Defined collaborates on global social impact initiatives. Projects like converting school buses into mobile schools for underprivileged communities in Ajmer, India was called the EDUCATION ON WHEELS and Pakistan. So that they can bring education to the door steps of those students who can’t travel miles and miles to attend the school. Re-defined in total has collaborated with 15+ organizations globally. Additionally their recognition program celebrates and acknowledges the contribution of International students and immigrants as community trailblazers, with plans for a prestigious gala to honor the top 10 trailblazers in the various regions.
- Support and engagement
For those interested in supporting Re-Defined, there are multiple ways to get involved following and engaging with their online presence, contributing to their impact initiatives through fundraising or donations and volunteering to join their teams as photographers and videographers or in various capacities can significantly aid the cause.
- Insights and challenges
Saraswat emphasizes on the importance of research, reflection and aligning decisions with personal goals. She stresses the significance of skills beyond academic qualifications, urging individuals to focus on networking and personal branding. Saraswat also highlights the value of seeking help and maintaining transparent communication to avoid unnecessary delay in progress.
While Re-Defined continues to impact countless lives, challenges persist, primarily in terms of time, financial resources and aligning volunteer efforts. Saraswat remains steadfast in her commitment to maximize the organizational potential, envisioning a future where Re-defined can expand its reach and support even more individuals in need. Ritika Saraswat’s journey with Re- Defined stands as a testament to the transformative power of empathy, determination and relentless drive to create a more inclusive and supportive world for those striving to build a better future in a new land.
Taking action in one’s homeland and venturing into a new country are two entirely distinct endeavors
To connect with RE-DEFINED, you can write them at redefined.npo@gmail.com