Sharon Capeling-Alakija
Encyclopedia
Sharon Capeling-Alakija, O.C.
(1944-2003) was a Canadian development administrator. She was born and grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
, where she completed her elementary, secondary and tertiary education, graduating in 1966 with a B.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan
. In the early 1960s she taught history in Saskatoon, leaving Canada In the late 60s and early 70s to teach in Tanzania
and Barbados
. She became involved with NGOs and enhancing their effectiveness, in particular playing a central role in CUSO
(Canadian University Service Overseas).
Between 1989 and 1994 she was Director of UNIFEM
and developed initiatives for UNIFEM in favour of the international women’s movement to assist women at policy and grassroots levels. While at UNIFEM, she established the Noel Foundation Life Award, whose recipients included the late Mother Theresa, Corazon Aquino
and Cheng Yen
.
From 1994 to 1997, she was Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
From 1997 until her death in 2003, she was Executive Coordinator of United Nations Volunteers
, spear-heading the highly successful International Year of Volunteers in 2001 and the move of the Online Volunteering Service from NetAid
. She also oversaw the build up of UNV's largest single presence to date, in East Timor, during its transition towards independence; some 3,000 UN Volunteers from more than 100 countries supported the East Timor
Public Administration, including electoral processes.
In 1998 she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and in 2003 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
At a memorial ceremony in December 2003 in New York City, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
said,
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1944-2003) was a Canadian development administrator. She was born and grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, where she completed her elementary, secondary and tertiary education, graduating in 1966 with a B.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. In the early 1960s she taught history in Saskatoon, leaving Canada In the late 60s and early 70s to teach in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. She became involved with NGOs and enhancing their effectiveness, in particular playing a central role in CUSO
CUSO
CUSO was founded June 6, 1961 as Canadian University Service Overseas . It was a Canadian non-profit organization that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO...
(Canadian University Service Overseas).
Between 1989 and 1994 she was Director of UNIFEM
UNIFEM
The United Nations Development Fund for Women, commonly known as UNIFEM was established in December 1976 originally as the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women in the International Women's Year. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D...
and developed initiatives for UNIFEM in favour of the international women’s movement to assist women at policy and grassroots levels. While at UNIFEM, she established the Noel Foundation Life Award, whose recipients included the late Mother Theresa, Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
and Cheng Yen
Cheng Yen
Cheng Yen is a Taiwanese Buddhist nun , teacher, and philanthropist. She is often called the "Mother Teresa of Asia." In 1966, Cheng Yen founded the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, commonly known as Tzu Chi; its motto is "instructing the rich and saving the poor"...
.
From 1994 to 1997, she was Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
From 1997 until her death in 2003, she was Executive Coordinator of United Nations Volunteers
United Nations Volunteers
The United Nations Volunteers program is a United Nations organization that advocates the role and benefits of volunteerism for development, integrates volunteers into development programmes, and mobilises volunteers for development projects. It was created to be a development partner for UN...
, spear-heading the highly successful International Year of Volunteers in 2001 and the move of the Online Volunteering Service from NetAid
NetAid
NetAid is an anti-poverty initiative. It started as a joint venture between the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems. It became an independent nonprofit organization in 2001. In 2007, NetAid became a part of Mercy Corps...
. She also oversaw the build up of UNV's largest single presence to date, in East Timor, during its transition towards independence; some 3,000 UN Volunteers from more than 100 countries supported the East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
Public Administration, including electoral processes.
In 1998 she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and in 2003 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
At a memorial ceremony in December 2003 in New York City, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
said,
- At a time of unprecedented change in the world and in the role of the United Nations, Sharon had an instinctive grasp of the need for the Organization to reach out as widely as possible and engage people from all walks of life to join in our mission. She brought that understanding to bear on all her work with us -- whether as Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme, Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning at UNDP, or Director of the UN Development Fund for Women. The highly successful International Year of Volunteers she led in 2001 provided vivid testimony of the energy and enthusiasm she brought to that approach... From the day Sharon set out into the world as a young volunteer, to her final contribution as head of UNV, this courageous woman never stopped quilting in the name of solidarity, for the benefit of all in one world... And I personally, shall miss hearing her call out “Uncle Kofi”. Now that she is gone, which other white-haired woman is going to call me Uncle Kofi?