Danna Irene Rose Henderson

Education - Canada (North America)

As a young Aboriginal woman from the Pasqua First Nation indigenous reserve, Danna Henderson can boast several landmark achievements. She is one of a handful of youths in her community to have completed high school and embarked on post-secondary studies and has been chosen to participate in major television productions addressing youth gangs and prostitution.

Aboriginal people are among the most disadvantaged in Canada. One-quarter of Aboriginal girls leave school because of responsibilities in the home. Around half of all Aboriginal children never complete high school. Danna has been closely involved in her community as a peer support counsellor and as a member of the Little Sisters organisation, where she coaches indigenous children volleyball and basketball. She is convinced that her education is securing her a better future and hopes to empower other Aboriginal youths.

“In my community, one of the biggest challenges is teaching the youth that they have the potential to be whatever they want”.

Thanks to her achievements, Danna is an inspiration to her community. She wants to use her participation at Oxfam IYP2004 and her community standing to inspire other aboriginal youths to break cycles of violence, gang warfare, welfare dependency and teen pregnancy by pursuing an education as a path to growth and success.