October 18, 2025Articles Championing Change: Aditi Sivakumar’s Journey in Empowering Women and Children Facing Violence What began as a fortunate mistake set medical resident and philanthropist Aditi Sivakumar on a path to leading global advocacy campaigns. For the past seven years, she has been redefining women’s rights advocacy through innovation, community engagement and inclusive leadership. She was recognized this year with Ascend Canada’s 2025 Social Impact Award, acknowledging her commitment to empowering women, youth and underrepresented voices. Resources and informationMy Empowerment Platform: Providing support to women and girls facing violencePMNCH for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health: The world’s largest alliance committed to protecting and advocating for the health, well-being and rights of women, children and adolescentsColonoscopy Guide: Developed for HPV and Cervical Cancer PatientsCanada’s Walk of Fame Community Hero AwardThe Diana Award Legacy Award A life-changing call from the UK One afternoon over lunch with her mother, Aditi Sivakumar’s phone rang. The number on the screen began with +44 — London, England. “I don’t know anyone in London,” she thought, letting it ring three times before finally answering.On the other end was a representative from the Diana Award. Prince William had heard about her grassroots advocacy work — specifically, her resource booklets for women and youth facing violence — and wanted to recognize her as the first Canadian Legacy Award recipient. In just a couple of weeks, she’d be on a plane to London and walking into Kensington Palace to receive the award.The moment was surreal. As she recalls her meeting with Prince William, “He wanted to really understand what I was doing and then he asked me what was next. I didn’t have a good answer… and I remember him telling me I needed to dream bigger.”That challenge — to dream bigger — would shape everything that came next. Join as a member The spark that set things in motion Back in 2018, Sivakumar was an aspiring medical student in Ottawa, checking the usual boxes to strengthen her application to medical school. One of these was volunteering. She applied for what she thought was a homework club role, expecting to help kids with math worksheets. But due to a mix-up, her application landed in the Peer Support Program, which placed volunteers in domestic violence shelters. When she first found out, she was scared. This kind of work was outside her comfort zone. “I didn’t know if I was the best person for the job, but I was always very passionate about ending gender-based violence, so I thought this would be an interesting opportunity to take on.”Saying yes to the position became a turning point for Sivakumar. At Chrysalis House, a local domestic violence shelter, she began helping with tutoring for children and organizing activities for mothers and kids to connect — from decorating cupcakes to a service where women could get their nails done. Through conversations with residents, she saw a clear gap between the services women wanted and what they could access in the community.To help close that gap, she applied for a small $750 grant. “At that time, I thought I was rolling in money,” she laughs. With it, she created My Empowerment Packs — wellness kits that included Ottawa’s first community resource booklet for women facing violence or youth experiencing homelessness. Inside were clear, accessible listings of housing, education and employment supports. The booklets gained popularity and generated considerable local buzz. Soon, they were in the hands of hundreds of organizations, which ultimately led to a call from London and planted the seeds for a larger vision. Career tip: Opportunities that scare you often lead to the most growth. Step into the role, even if you’re not sure you’re “ready.” Scaling advocacy during the pandemic In early 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns swept across Canada, and rates of domestic violence surged. Chrysalis House, already underfunded, struggled even more.“When you love something, it’s hard to watch it struggle,” Sivakumar says. She began to think about advocacy in the digital space — how to scale the work she was doing so that women across the country could access help, even during lockdown.She called the Diana Award team back for support. “You told me to dream bigger. Now I have an idea.”With their help, My Empowerment Platform was born — a national, online hub that provides medical, legal and educational resources to women and children facing violence, accessible from coast to coast. The platform expanded through partnerships with Canada’s Walk of Fame and L’Oréal Paris, which enabled support for 13 charities — one in each province and territory. Where advocacy meets innovation Sivakumar believes that advocacy in the 21st century must embrace technology and media. “If you want change, it’s not about how many papers you write or speeches you give. It’s about how you move people with a story.” She’s put this into practice through multiple health education initiatives, including: A colposcopy pamphlet for HPV and cervical cancer patients, accepted by the Nova Scotia Health Authority A sexual and reproductive health animation, translated into 11 languages, designed to help newcomers and refugees understand their health rights A birth unit video, funded by She Decides, tailored for diverse populations For her, accessibility isn’t just about content — it’s about language, format and cultural relevance. “Knowledge is power, and you can’t make changes in your health care unless you have the knowledge.” Career tip: If you want to make an impact, meet people where they are. Use tools and formats they already trust and understand to convey your message. Join us at our events Leadership on a global stage Sivakumar’s impact extends far beyond Canada. In fact, she became the youngest Vice Chair of the Board for the World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), working alongside global leaders including Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.In that role, she co-chaired the Global Forum for Adolescents and co-led the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change Campaign — the world’s largest campaign for adolescent well-being. The initiative blended digital innovation, like a WhatsApp chatbot to gather youth priorities, with on-the-ground mobilization to reach communities without internet access.Her guiding question was this: How do you make sure that the voices usually never heard have a place at the decision-making table? Career tip: Inclusive leadership means not just inviting diverse voices into the room — it means structuring the room so those voices can be heard. The power of knowledge and community From the first $750 grant to large-scale advocacy tools, Sivakumar’s work is fueled by her belief that knowledge is power. She wants every woman and child facing violence to know their rights, their options and their resources — and to feel empowered to choose their own path.When she reflects on her journey, one theme stands out: community. “I would not be here today if it weren’t for every single individual within Chrysalis House who inspired me to get dedicated towards ending gender-based violence.”Sivakumar’s most recent chapter includes joining the Ascend Canada community. “Communities like Ascend Canada are so important because they connect you with people who have already been through challenges and can help you – or if they don’t know how, they can connect you with someone who can,” she says. Now, as the recipient of Ascend Canada’s Social Impact Award, she hopes to be that connection for others — helping the next generation of Pan-Asian leaders find their passion, build their networks and step into their potential. Career tip: Build with your community, not just for it. Sustainable change is a collective effort. Simple advice: Find your passion Early in her journey, Sivakumar lacked mentors who looked like her. “I didn’t have any South Asian or Pan-Asian role models to guide me through advocacy work,” she says. That absence made the road lonelier — and it’s why she now actively mentors others.Her advice to Pan-Asian professionals who want to make an impact is to find their passion. “Then go for it,” she says. “Sometimes we are our own worst enemy – we have so much self-doubt. We think, ‘Why would it be me?’ I say, why not you?” Career tip: If you don’t see the mentor you need, become that mentor for someone else. While her story began with a volunteer mix-up, Aditi Sivakumar turned that circumstance into a career of social impact leadership, women’s rights advocacy and health education innovation. As she continues her medical training and advocacy work, her message to future change makers is clear but simple: “Do the job you never thought you were qualified for. Go for the position you want. Start the project that excites you. We are so much more powerful than we give ourselves credit for — and you’ll never know unless you try.” Read more FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
