Andrea Poncia
Volunteer Coordination
andrea@tenoaksproject.org

Andrea brings seven years of experience in collaborating with youth to the Ten Oaks Project.

As a student in Communications and Women's Studies at the University of Ottawa, Andrea was a peer educator who coordinated an educational theatre program through the Women's Resource Centre. This program gave Andrea the opportunity to collaborate with adults in developing positive messages for her peers. Their work revolved around fighting homophobia and promoting an understanding of GLBTTQ issues on campus.

From there she joined Planned Parenthood Ottawa as the coordinator of their francophone, educational theatre group Théatre des Lueurs. This position gave her an opportunity to engage high school students and to partner with them in developing performances that raised awareness about healthy sexuality in high schools.

As Andrea's career developed, her interest in meaningful youth engagement became her focus. She went on to work as an HIV/AIDS Educator at the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa, where she has had the opportunity to collaborate with youth in the development and implementation of many programs and services over the past four years.