Jordyn Maduke, a 17-year-old graduate of the Erickson Collegiate Institute, was one out of only four select graduating students in Manitoba chosen by the organization to receive the annual accolade, which also includes a $200 scholarship. Her selection for the award is the result MCIC's recognition of her extraordinary volunteer efforts over a long period of time, involvement in raising awareness about global issues in the school and community, and taking a strong leadership role in other humanitarian projects. The award encourages young people to look beyond our borders and take action as global citizens in improving the lives of children, the disabled, and impoverished young people in other nations.
In her initial application for the award, the Erikson Collegiate graduate offered an impressive resume built on both local and international volunteer work, which the MCIC no doubt found difficult to overlook.
During the past year alone, Jordyn was the acting president of 'Students Making a Difference' at Erickson Collegiate, leading a group of fellow students in various humanitarian projects with the goal of bettering living conditions abroad. One of the projects the group undertook was Operation Christmas Child, wherein the students collected money throughout the year to provide Christmas gifts for impoverished children in other countries who might otherwise not receive a Christmas gift.

She was also involved in the 10 – 10 project (derived from October 10th, 2010), and assisted in coordinating the school's Earth Day, Earth Hour, and the 30 Hour Famine, in which she was also a participant. Even though the students were allowed to drink liquids like juice during the 'famine' period and nobody got sick, the experience struck home the hunger pangs which many children must endure on a regular basis.
"It was awful," was Jordyn's comment in recollecting the event.
Besides these endeavors, the grad student has in the past also been actively involved with the Christmas Cheer Board, and volunteering at the local personal care home. And that's not all.
"I coach hockey, soccer, curling, and I'm on the fire department," said the 17-year-old, who admits to making a few sacrifices in order to pursue the cause of others, "I was very active in hockey, and this year I didn't play, because I wanted to focus on volunteer and school work."
Asked what led her to get involved with MCIC, Jordyn responded,
"I've been doing volunteering pretty much all my life; I just wanted to be involved with my community and stuff."

The MCIC is a coalition of over 40 organizations involved in international development, and established the Global Citizenship Award in 2009, recognizing graduating high school students who have "engaged in meaningful leadership and global citizenship volunteer activities aimed at a more just and sustainable world." The coalition works with Manitobans who are concerned about building a better world, believing that the success of international development is dependent on promoting an understanding of international issues locally, within the province of Manitoba.

Executive Director of MCIC Janice Hamilton commended all four award recipients, two of whom are from Winnipeg, the other from Oakbank, on their hard work in making a difference.
"Through their actions, these students have shown that they are committed to making our world a better place. They are leaders in their schools and we expect they will continue to be leaders in their communities in the future. Their active global citizenship is an inspiration to us all."
Jordyn sums up the issue this way.
"Global Citizenship isn't about who can raise the most money for tsunami survivors or who has the fanciest hybrid car; it's about doing what you can for the world."
It is also understandable that someone with such depth of compassion for others like Jordyn, who wants to become a doctor, might someday want to see for herself the work being done overseas to help the less fortunate. Does she harbor such an interest in traveling abroad?
"Yes, I do," she said, "I want to travel around the world volunteering – in between my studies at university. I'll' be going somewhere for sure."
As a recipient of the highly esteemed Global Citizenship Award, Jordyn seems to pretty much be taking it all in stride.
"Well, I feel honored and humbled, and it's satisfying to know that I'm making a difference, and I will probably continue doing it for the rest of my life."