Joëlle Kabisoso Kapinga - BOLD Stories

Joëlle Kabisoso Kapinga’s decision to come to Brescia to pursue her undergraduate degree was a decision that placed her in a community she was destined to be a part of.

At Brescia, Joelle discovered a love for Family Studies and went on to graduate in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology with a specialization in Family Studies.

Since leaving Brescia, Joelle has started her own non-profit organisation, Sisters in Sync. The organisation’s mission is to create safe spaces for trauma survivors and provide support systems for them as they navigate life. Joelle said though the organization she really wanted to help young girls gain their self-esteem and to be the best version of themselves. 

“I decided to pursue a career in uplifting women because I think we don’t often see that happening in our society and I have a lot of girl cousins and that is all I've known in my life. I have never known an upbringing where my mom wasn’t supportive of me or my aunts weren’t supportive,” Joelle said.

And while reflecting on her journey at Canada’s only all women’s university, Joelle described it as a life changing experience that propelled her into the woman she is today.

“What I love about my time at Brescia is the fact that choosing to be bold was really instilled in me. I’m someone who is a little shy and introverted so I am really thankful to have been in a community that was small enough for me to feel bold enough to speak up and ask questions and engage in discussions.”

 

The very confident and driven Joelle said she strongly believes if she went into a larger university, she would not have developed her self-confidence the way she did at Brescia. Joelle said she felt as though during her four years at Brescia, her ideas, thoughts and discussions were validated while in classes and the wider Brescia community.

But what does being bold really mean to Joelle? She said for her, it was not letting anything stand in her way.

“It means really being unafraid of taking up space, unafraid of validating your own experiences and your voice. A lot of the time I believe that we look for that validation from other people and if they tell us that we are not good enough or if something doesn’t sound right, we tend to dim our own light.”

“And at Brescia being bold really encouraged me to make sure that when I went up there and I spoke and I shared my experiences or created spaces like Sisters in Sync, it was because of my desire to show the world that I believe in myself before I allow other people to believe in me."

 

 

She also added that she wholeheartedly believed being bold meant showing up as your authentic self,  designing a life you enjoy and accessing spaces and opportunities that may not otherwise be the norm for you.

Joelle encouraged any young woman looking to find their voice and truly hone their skills, to consider attending Brescia.

“The kind of woman that would thrive at Brescia is one that isn’t afraid to be uncomfortable. I think just the fact of it being an all girls school can be a little uncomfortable for people but it can also be something very challenging and encouraging. I think being in a space where you thrive off of the energy and the ideas of other women is something you get here at Brescia and if that’s your vibe and your personality, then honestly this is the place for you.”

 

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