Mola Shahsavari

MA student in Globalization Studies at McMaster University| Freelance Photographer | Communication Coordinator | Interest research area politics of Middle East

Profile

MA Student at McMaster University
International Affairs | Ontario, Canada, CA

Summary

MA student in Globalization Studies McMaster University | Freelance Photographer | Interest research area Middle Eastern Politics |
Specialties: International Affairs, Middle Eastern Politics, Conflict Prevention and Management, Digital Communication and Social Media

Experience

  • Sept 2011 - Present
    Teaching Assistant / McMaster Department of Communication Studies and Multimedia
    McMaster Department of Communication Studies and Multimedia

    Facilitating group discussions and activities; presenting materials and communicating complex concepts to non-specialists; providing guidance for assignments; resolving disputes and conflicts; evaluating performance and assessing comprehension.
    * Completed AODA and the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service training
  • Jan 2009 - Present
    Photographer / Molashah Photography
    Official Photographer of:
    2010 CUSO-VSO 50th Anniversary
    2010 TEDxVancouver
    2010 TEDxUBC
    2010 Media Democracy Day
    2010 Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)
    2010 Vancouver International Soccer Festival
    2010 Vancouver People's Summit
    2010 Pecha Kucha Night Victoria
    2010 WordCamp Victoria
    2009 TEDxVancouver
  • Jun 2011 - Jul 2011
    Participant / International Peace & Security Institute
    Undergoing intense training and attending workshops, seminars and simulations on conflict management, conflict resolution and transformation, mediation, facilitation and peace building processes
  • Jan 2011 - Jul 2011
    Resource and Communication Coordinator / Women's Coalition of Zimababwe
    Cataloguing print, video, and online resources among member organizations
    Facilitating workshops for staff in management of a resource centre for community groups
    Training staff in video production and using social media tools
    Printing and distributing Women and Peace building Project manuals and handouts to partners
    Creating a forum for women from diverse backgrounds to collectively advocate for their rights
    Training staff in resource acquisition and cataloguing resources
  • Sept 2010 - Jul 2011
    Social Media Team Leader / AIDS Vancouver
    Maintaining AIDS Vancouver’s social media presence
    Supporting staff and volunteers through workshops and and using social media tools
    Promoting the work of AIDS Vancouver through social media tools
    Creating help documents, tracking progress, and communicating with the team using wikis, shared
    docs and other web tools.
    Analyzing social media tools with usability testing, surveys and other measures
    Moderating monthly team meetings
    Creating, editing and publishing photo essays and videos
    Creating campaigns and initiatives to encourage participation in workshops
  • May 2011 - May 2011
    Registration Officer / Elections Canada
    Setting up the registration desk
    Admitting candidates’ representatives
    Receiving electors who wish to register to vote
    Explaining the registration process
    Requesting and verifying personal identification and residence information
    Completing and signing the registration form for qualified electors
  • Sept 2010 - Dec 2010
    Communication Intern / CUSO-VSO
    Assessing information, education and communication needs of specific projects and target audiences
    Producing, editing, uploading podcasts and promoting them through social media
    Developing appropriate education and training responses using a variety of media
    Writing various communication materials, including correspondence to head office, promotional
    materials, talking points, fact sheets and any other necessary communication materials
    Writing Monitoring and Evaluation reports on CUSO-VSO’s podcast projects
    Managing CUSO-VSO social media presence
  • Jun 2010 - Dec 2010
    Communication Coordinator / Youth Initiative Canada
    Managing YIC Social Media channels
    Overseeing marketing, outreach and support
    Designing campaigns to raise awareness about HIV/Aids amongst the youth
    Creating campaigns and initiatives to encourage participation in workshops
    Setting up new interns and staff members with Google Groups and access to wikis
    Creating, editing and publishing photo essays and videos
    Overseeing publishing of YIC newsletters
  • Jan 2010 - Mar 2010
    Broadcasting Assistant / Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver
    Being in charge of International Broadcasting Center Inventory control
    Assisting camera operators at venue during the transmission of the international signal
    Performing set-ups, general maintenance and camera tear-down
    Assisting with audio production during the events
    Monitoring overall operation of onsite audio equipment
    Pacing microphones and general audio troubleshooting
  • Aug 2007 - Jun 2008
    Inventory Control Specialist / Holt Renfrew, Vancouver
  • Sept 2006 - Jun 2007
    Associate Manager / Club Monaco

Education

  • 2011 - 2012
    McMaster University
    MA in Globalization
  • 2011 - 2011
    International Peace and Security Institute
    Diploma in Bologna Symposium on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, & Reconciliation
  • 2009 - 2010
    Royal Roads University
    BA of Arts in Professional Communication
    Activities: Secretary of Professional Education Committee
  • 2004 - 2006
    Langara College
    Associate Degree in Art and Science

Additional Information

Interests:
Social Media,International Law, Photo Journalism, Current Affairs, Broadcasting, Communication.

Photos

Posts

Panel of Participants: Looking Forward - How Can we Change the World?

The 2011 Bologna, Italy Symposium On Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Reconciliation 

I originally wanted to propose a five minutes silence but unfortunately the idea was vetoed. Therefore you’d have to bear with me for the next five minutes or so. 

The question that has been put before us is , now that we have finished this symposium, how are we going to utilize this knowledge and change the world. 

My answer is short and simple: I will not change the world. Now we can have 4 minutes of silence. 

Must we be utterly preoccupied by this notion of changing the world around us?

If we pause for a moment and ponder and look at the history, and more specifically the contemporary history we realize that the modern human being has been changing the world on a constant basis. Non stop. 

But have not we changed the world enough already? We wage wars in the name of change for a better future, we impose premature peace processes in the name of change, We’ve lost touch with the nature and the environment, We are constantly changing the face of our planet to the point that soon it will be completely exhausted of it’s resources. Genocides, mass atrocities, revolutions have been committed in order to change the world. And yet this constant appetite for change is never satisfied. We must ask ourselves, what have achieved ? Is changing the world the solution ?

Given all the technological advances we have made people have grown accustomed to thinking that the development is happening at maximum capacity. That the world is improving at the fastest rate possible. That people’s lives are getting better and we’re fighting against disease and famine and inequality as hard as we can. This simply isn’t true. We’re barely making any differences and we are far from working towards maximum capacity. We need to lift that veil of ignorance and see the truth, that things aren’t OK. 

We are so fond of this idea of changing the world that I fear, we forget the fact that we are part of a historical narrative. And history does indeed repeat itself if we don’t learn its lessons  Change is not a reset button that we can press and start from point zero all over again. Time is a crucial factor that usually is sidelined in favor of immediate changes. However, one must keep in mind that change is not a project but a very , and I emphasize on very, long process. And there are no shortcuts. 

Change comes from within. What we need today is not to change the world but to accept it the way it is with all it’s shortcomings and try to focus on truly improving the essence and quality of human relationships and think about what kind of legacy we are passing to the next generation because after all if we truly care about making a difference we must look beyond our own lifetime. Change is not about us. It’s about them. 

Mola Shahsavari

July 2011, Bologna


Going up 453 steps of Bologna’s highest tower (by Mola’s Photostream)

خوشا آنان که الله يارشان بي
که حمد و قل هو الله کارشان بي
خوشا آنان که دايم در نمازند
بهشت جاودان بازارشان بي
الهي
الهي
الهي
بيا جانا که جانانم تويي تو
بيا جانا که سلطانم تويي تو
تو خود دوني که غير از تو نخواهم
بيا جانا که ايمانم تويي تو

در کجای فصل؟

در کجای فصل؟

با صنوبری که روی قله 
ایستاده بود
گونه روی گونه ی سپیده دم نهاده بود
موج گیسوان به دوش بادها گشاده بود
از نشیب یخ گرفت دره گفتم
این نه ساخت شکفتگی ست
در کجای فصل ایستاده ای
 مگر ندیده ای
سبزه ها کبود و بیشه سوگوار
فصل فصل خامش نهفتگی ست
آن صنوبر بلند
با اشاره ای نه سوی دوردست
 گفت
قد کوته تو راه را به دیده ی تو بست
گامی از درون سرد خود برآی
 پای بر گریوه ای گذار
و درنگر
 رود آفتاب و آب در شتاب
 کاروان درد و سرد
 در گزیر و ناگزیر
آنک آن هجوم سبز مرز ناپذیر
 در کجای فصل ایستاده ام ؟
 در کرانه ای
 که پیش چشم من
 بهار شعله های سبز و
 سیره و سرود
در نگاه تو کبود و دود

#Zim Dollar (no longer in circulation) 

“The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy,” Mr. Kissinger said. “And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern.”

“I know,” Nixon responded. “We can’t blow up the world because of it.”

The world according to Facebook friendships

Schubert and a glass of cabernet sauvignon

On the way back

Few hours from now… @TEDxUBC

Currently listening 

Putting aside yet another Pass…

Audio

  • خوشا آنان که الله يارشان بيکه حمد و قل هو الله کارشان بيخوشا آنان که دايم در نمازندبهشت جاودان بازارشان بيالهيالهيالهيبيا جانا که جانانم تويي توبيا جانا که سلطانم تويي توتو خود دوني که غير از تو نخواهمبيا جانا که ايمانم تويي تو
    3 plays
  • 1 plays
  • Schubert and a glass of cabernet sauvignon
    10 plays
  • Currently listening
    11 plays

Posts

May 09, 03:49 AM

Episode 9 - Interview with Fungisai Chitare

Fungisai is an Intern at Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe. She studied sociology and minored in enviromental studies. She speaks about how she got involved with WCoZ. Being the youngest member of the WCoZ secreterait, she reflects on what the younger generetation thinks of the women's right movement as well as their concerns.

Interview conducted by Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

May 02, 03:27 AM

Episode 8 - Interview with Netsai Mushonga National Coordinator of WCoZ

Netsai Mushonga is a women rights and peace activist and the National Coordinatio of the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe.She has worked on a variety of projects to bring peace to Zimbabwe including a nonviolence and gender project which aimed to raise awareness of gender based violence.She has also worked to train election monitors in nonviolence and has participated in monitoring elections in Zimbabwe at the highest levels to foster a culture of democracy.

Interview conducted by Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

April 25, 02:02 AM

Episode 7 - Interview with Theresa Makware the Coordinator of Zimbabwe Parents of Children with Disabilities Association (ZPCDA)

Theresa Makware is the Coordinator of Zimbabwe Parents of Children with Disabilities Association (ZPCDA). In this podcast she disccusses her role in ZPCDA and reflects on challenges that mothers of children with disability are facing in Zimbabwe. Theresa is hereself mother of a child living with disabilities. She joined the organization in 1988 as a member and later became a strong activist. She talks about the "dollar fatigue" that her organization is facing due to the fact that most donors are focused on other sectors.

Interview conducted by: Mola Shahsavari

April 17, 11:33 PM

Episode 6 - Interview with Patience Zirima

Policy and Advocacy Officer at WCoZ

Patience Zirima is the Policy and Advocacy officer at WCoZ. She started working with the Women's Rights Movement in Zimbabwe in 2002 when she was involved with the Federation of African Media Zimbabwe. She specialized on Media advocacy, gender sensitivity in media and monitoring media representation of African in media.

Ms. Zirima discusses how she got involved with the movement and reflects on her experiences as well as her role within Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe.

Interview conducted by: Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

April 10, 11:30 PM

Episode 1 - Interview with Rita Nyampinga
WCoZ Board Member & Labour Activist

Former trade unionist, Rita Nyampinga, speaks about her experiences in the labour movement in the mid-2000s. Ms. Nyampinga worked for ---- for over 20 years & was fired in 2004 after taking part in a strike aiming to force her employer to pay 6 months of unpaid wages & improve working conditions.

Following this labour dispute, Ms. Nyampinga joined the women's movement in Zimbabwe to address gender inequality in the workplace. She explains that Zimbabwean men are better able to engage in migrant labour as they have better access to official documents such as passports & dominate the natural resource sectors. In contrast, women dominate in the informal economy & still bear primary responsibility for childcare & maintaining the household.

Interview by: Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

April 03, 11:09 PM

Episode 4 - Interview with Audrey Charamba
WCoZ Board Member & Director of the Zimbabwe Women Writers (ZWW)

In this episode, Audrey Charamba, the Director of the Zimbabwe Women Writers organization, talks about the importance of the written word & other forms of expression for Zimbabwean women. She also discusses how print & other media create a space for women's advocacy & can promote positive images of women & challenge negative stereotypes.

In addition, Ms. Charamba relates her personal experiences growing up in a patriarchal society & her struggle to understand limiting gender roles in Zimbabwean society.

Interview Conducted by Mola Shahsavari and Amber Minnings

March 27, 10:46 PM

Episode 3 - Interview with Tafadzwa Muropa
WCoZ Peacebuilding Officer & Gender Activist

Gender activist & political economist, Tafadzwa Muropa, discusses the links between capitalism & gender inequality, domestic violence & peacebuilding, politics & women's socio-economic rights.

“For any woman to enjoy her socio-economic rights, the environment must be peaceful,” she says. She argues that the current political context in Zimbabwe is divisive & describes the gender-based violence that occurred during Zimbabwe's 2008 elections.

Ms. Muropa also discusses changing gender roles in society & the role Zimbabwean men can & do have in achieving gender equality.

Interview conducted by: Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

March 21, 08:38 AM

Episode 1 - Interview with Rita Nyampinga
WCoZ Board Member & Labour Activist

Former trade unionist, Rita Nyampinga, speaks about her experiences in the labour movement in the mid-2000s. Ms. Nyampinga worked for Post and Telecommunication Corp. for over 20 years & was fired in 2004 after taking part in a strike aiming to force her employer to pay 6 months of unpaid wages & improve working conditions.

Following this labour dispute, Ms. Nyampinga joined the women's movement in Zimbabwe to address gender inequality in the workplace. She explains that Zimbabwean men are better able to engage in migrant labour as they have better access to official documents such as passports & dominate the natural resource sectors. In contrast, women dominate in the informal economy & still bear primary responsibility for childcare & maintaining the household.

Interview conducted by: Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

March 14, 09:51 AM

Episode 2 - Interview with Grace Chirenje
WCoZ Board Member & Director of Youtpisode 2 - Interview with Grace Chirenje

Grace Chirenje speaks about the importance of youth education & empowerment, particularly for young women in Zimbabwe. Ms. Chirenje explains that her activism sprung out of teenage rebellion & her opposition to women's traditional roles & duties in society. Today, Ms. Chirenje has an MA in Leadership & heads the Zimbabwe Young Women's Network for Peace Buildingproject. This project focuses on issues of women's participation in politics, democracy, literacy & skills training, & works mainly in rural communities in Zimbabwe.

Interview conducted by: Amber Minnings and Mola Shahsavari

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