I am a 14 year old student from Paul William Kaeser High School
in Fort Smith, a remote town of about 2,000 people in Canada's
Northwest Territories.
We are a tight-knit community, full of potential, but far from resources and opportunities that students have access to in bigger cities.
My mission grew when I participated in a program from PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs, a Canadian nonprofit that teaches kids across the country about entrepreneurial thinking and business skills. Their program transformed how I see the world, giving me creativity, independence, and essential life skills. Feeling empowered by this experience, I joined their Youth Advisory Council, one of just 10 students nationwide who help shape programs and mentor others. One of my proudest moments was facilitating a workshop day with Indigenous students, sharing these valuable skills with peers in remote Saskatchewan. Yet after two years of leadership, I've only ever met my teammates through a screen. While many of them can gather in person near Surrey, I remain 2,237 km away in Fort Smith. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to finally meet them face-to-face.
Feeling inspired, I now have the chance to change that.
The Opportunity:
I’ve been invited to share my story at the PowerPlay Young Women Founders Event happening in Surrey, BC, where I'll meet my peers and other inspiring women entrepreneurs/leaders who have made theirs into incredible careers. A wonderful chance to be inspired; to inspire others as well.
But this trip isn’t just about me, it’s about bringing everything I learn back to my community in Fort Smith. With PowerPlay’s support, we hope to host an Innovation Day back at my school: a hands-on event where students work together to solve real-world challenges, learn from mentors, and pitch their ideas in a friendly competition. In a town like ours, where opportunities are rare, this could be transformational. This event is about igniting creativity, building confidence, and showing my peers what they’re capable of.
But first I need to get to Surrey.
The Challenge:
Getting from Fort Smith to Surrey isn’t easy. Since there are no
direct flights, my mom (who is accompanying me since I am a minor)
and I would need to take three flights (Fort Smith → Edmonton →
Vancouver → Surrey) - with the Fort Smith-Edmonton route only
running twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. This means 2 full
travel days with overnight stays on the day we arrive and the night
before we leave, with 3 full days and 2 nights in Surrey. The $2,625
per person cost covers all flights, ground transportation,
accommodations, and food.
Once we reach this campaign goal, additional money
raised will help plan and cover costs for the Innovation Day. This
is an investment in my entire community.
By attending this event, I’ll gain the skills, connections,
and inspiration to bring back something bigger, a chance for other
kids in Fort Smith to dream and create.
How Can You Help
Your support will do two important things:
-
Help me get to the PowerPlay Young Women’s Founders Event, where I’ll meet my peers in person, learn from leaders and share my voice.
-
Help fund our school’s Innovation Day, so I can bring those lessons home and empower others.
Every donation brings us closer to thinking bigger and acting local - proving that even in a small town, big ideas can grow. Thank you for believing in me - and in the potential of my whole community.
This mission has always felt just beyond our grasp - but with
your support, we can finally make it reality. We can do this!
-Rachelle Virassamy
