AN INTERVIEW WITH MAGGY SAWATSKY: A GRADUATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEGREE PROGRAM WHO IS WORKING TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING
April 9, 2019
Maggy Sawatsky of Humber’s International Development Degree Program is working to End Human Trafficking.
Where did you do your placement?
For my placement I worked with a grassroots organization in Cambodia called Daughters of Cambodia, working as a Capacity Building and Development Intern for trafficking survivors between 15-25. A lot of my job was teaching life skills (ie. job skills, money management, ESL and healthy relationships), with some group counselling and other assorted tasks.
What brought you to Humber?
When I was looking at where I wanted to take my Bachelor studies I spent a lot of time looking for programs that could provide me with practical life skills and real solutions to problems I was seeing in the world. Humber was the perfect choice for this. It provided me with a strong basis of understanding around topics in the field, and with the help of staff, helped me focus on the area I was passionate about. I had many friends who took ID at other universities and left because they felt that their learning wasn’t prioritized and that they hadn’t actually grasped or been taught the basics of working in the ID (International Development) field. Because of Humber, I feel very confident going into a non-profit environment, knowing I am able to produce something that is beneficial to fighting human trafficking because I have been well taught.
What is your current role now?
My current role is a Bilingual Partnership Specialist with the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. The Centre is in the process of creating the National Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, and I am on the team creating the referral directory of service providers across the country. Currently I am overseeing all the partnerships in Eastern Canada (Maritimes and Quebec), where I am establishing individualized local and national response protocols with law enforcement services and social service providers to: (1) secure services for victims and survivors of trafficking and (2) refer intelligence to law enforcement and relevant government and statutory agencies. That includes cultivating and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders to secure response referrals for victims and survivors that would be most beneficial for their needs.
What other jobs have you held since graduation?
Since graduating I worked with Fight4Freedom, an anti trafficking organization in Toronto as the Education, Awareness and Prevention Coordinator and the Peel Regional Representative. I also worked at a couple bars/restaurants on the side, as I worked as a support-raised staff! I also got my TEFL diploma with my husband as we hope to one day teach in Asia.
Where do you see your career going next?
I don’t tend to keep any set plans, but I’d love to specialize on human trafficking and eventually pursue a Master’s with focus on cybersex trafficking and cyber crime.
Any other important life events that you are willing to share?
Shortly after I graduated I got married, we’ve been married just over a year now! We just recently moved to our own place in Mississauga, which has allowed us to be closer to where most of the kids we mentor live, so our house always has middle school, high school and college kids in it- which we absolutely love!
