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Two York students are in the spotlight for their innovative research. Sarah Freedman and Brigitte Vaillancourt were recipients of the 2002 CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) Awards for Canadians. Both were recognized in the Innovative Research Awards category.
Taking her master''s degree in environmental studies in fall 2002, Freedman worked on her project entitled "Risk Perception of Occupational and Non-Occupational Pesticide Exposure and Health Among Costa Rican Women", in the host country of Costa Rica. Vaillancourt who was taking a masters degree in political science in fall 2002 was involved in her project entitled "Femmes et mondialisation: les effets du retrait des programmes de subvention aux exportations sur l’emploi des femmes dans le secteur agroalimentaire", in the host country of South Africa.
To qualify for the awards, their projects had to address one or more of CIDA’s six development priorities which are: basic human needs; gender equality; infrastructure services; human rights, democracy and good governance; private sector development; and the environment.
Freedman’s and Vaillancourt’s projects were selected partly on the basis of over-all merit, including their contribution for the capacity-building of the host organization/country and their relevance in terms of meeting CIDA’s development priorities; participation of local women in the proposed activities; the applicant’s qualifications, professional experience, personal suitability, academic excellence, intercultural awareness and language skills; and strength of support given to the proposed project by the supporting organization and the advisor.
The CIDA Awards for Canadians program is administered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education. For more information on the program visit the Web site at http://www.cbie.ca/cida/main_e.html.