Hey blog followers… it’s been awhile!

I have some super exciting news to share and that’s why I’m jumping back on the blog wagon. As you can probably guess from the extremely straightforward and non-creative title of this post, I’m moving to Nigeria (and no, I have not fallen victim to a 419 scam)! I’m actually going to work with a truly incredible feminist organization called Girls’ Power Initiative. 

I’m leaving Canada for Nigeria in about a month which is why I’m writing this now, but I’ve been preparing for this trip since February when I found out I got the job! Needless to say, I’m thrilled about this opportunity and cannot wait to start working with GPI. It’s a big move for me, both career-wise and because the flight path to Calabar (the city I’ll be living and working in) is between 40-50 hours but I know it’s going to be a great thing.

For the past few years (aka since coming back from Nepal), I’ve been roaming around Canada and taking various jobs here and there. I did two seasons at a ski resort in Fernie. I’ve just completed my third back-to-back season of tree-planting in B.C. I did the whole EI and chill thing for a while. I wrote for a newspaper in Williams Lake. And while all of those experiences were extremely gratifying in many ways, I found myself often questioning why I wasn’t doing more to pursue my passion of empowering women and girls. So I made a goal (dad, you should be proud). My next job was going to focus on uplifting females in as many ways as possible.

Girls’ Power Initiative is an organization that is doing just that! Their vision is to operate as “a sustainable feminist institution leading transformation of patriarchal values in Nigeria.” Now that is something I can fully get behind.

I’ll be there as a communications advisor, helping to empower girls to own their truths, fight for their rights and tell their own stories in a way that is impactful in their local communities and beyond. I’ll also be helping the team at GPI to zhuzh up their communications material, social media presence and website so that they can expand their reach and their message.

For those of you who have followed this blog in the past, you’ll remember my video and written blogs from Nepal. My plan is to do the same thing in Nigeria (although hopefully more often). Part of working internationally is skill-sharing and capacity building with people from other countries but it’s also about educating people back home about other parts of the world and helping to erode stereotypes that may exist. So, I encourage you to follow along both to hear about my journey and also to learn a little something along the way.

But wait, there’s more! If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘damn, that sounds really cool and I wish I could be involved somehow” then I’ve got good news for you! The organization that is making this whole thing possible for me is called Cuso International and as part of my mandate, I’m trying to raise $2000 towards their development programming that aims to reduce poverty and inequality in 20 developing countries around the world. You can check out my fundraising page here to learn more about why I’m fundraising, where the money goes and what perks you get for donating (because oh, heck yeah… there’s perks) and to actually donate. Also, feel free to reach out via email (paigeellenmueller@gmail.com) if you wanna chat more about Nigeria, women’s empowerment, fundraising, blogging, books, movies, travel, nature, crafts or whatever. I’m into a lot of things and I love to talk/write/penpal.

So I hope you stay tuned (click follow via email at the bottom of this page), learn something and get inspired to uplift the women and girls in your life and all around the world.

Peace & Love

Paige