Emily Wiles (BA, 2017)
Distinguished Alumni Horizon Award, 2021
After returning from volunteer work at a non-profit organization in India, Emily Wiles (BA 2017) was intrigued by an ad for Tyndale’s combined Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and International Development degree. “The idea of being able to study the two together, in a place that offers small class sizes and direct access to incredible professors definitely influenced my decision to attend.”
While at Tyndale, Emily enjoyed engaging with mentors and teachers, and it helped her develop tools to adapt and learn quickly in the workforce.
“Studying at an academic institution helped me learn to engage critically and respectfully with ideas and concepts and with people who might hold beliefs different from my own,” she says. “It pushed me to widen my perspective in a supportive space where I could ask questions.”
Emily served overseas for international development organizations, such as Disabled Women in Africa in Malawi and Sampurn Development India. She also worked locally at the Mississauga Food Bank, building a comprehensive marketing and social media strategy.
Currently, Emily is the global marketing and communications officer at Right to Play, an organization with a mission to “protect, educate and empower children to rise above adversity using the power of play.”
“I document and share stories of children who participate in one of our programs that support children – especially girls – to develop literacy and math skills in Rwanda, Mozambique and Ghana,” says Emily.
“I love that through my work, I’m able to support children to claim their rights to learning and safety and to dream about the future.”
Emily enjoys being outdoors, cycling, reading and spending time with family and friends. She connects regularly with her colleagues around the globe and offers feedback and support.
“One of the most important things I’ve learned while working in this field is the need to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization around the world, including in Canada,” she says. “My encouragement to someone entering this field is to seek out the voices of Indigenous people on how our communities can support reconciliation efforts and to educate themselves on the biases that exist in systems of international aid.”