Robin Mednick

Celebrated social entrepreneur Robin Mednick accidentally fell into the world of international development when she discovered that 30 children were sharing one pencil in a small community in Niger, Africa. Broken hearted, Mednick decided to take action and started Pencils for Kids, a charity focused on providing every child with the opportunity for an education. Facing obstacles of language, culture, danger and distance, with no fame or expertise, Mednick attracted an extraordinary team of volunteers and in the course of the first five years has helped change the face of the small town of Liboré.

Mednick credits her volunteer work as founding President of Pencils for Kids, as the experience that changed her life forever and taught her the true meaning of giving. Featured in numerous publications, radio spots and TV programs, Mednick’s fearless approach to life is invigorating and contagious.  

Prior to founding Pencils for Kids, Mednick worked as the Executive Producer for the Good Life Show, an internationally syndicated health and lifestyle radio show on Sirius Satellite Network. Additionally, she was the President of the Mitchell Memorial Festival of Speech and Drama for 10 years. Mednick is also responsible for spearheading and establishing the national Urban Leadership Awards Program for the Canadian Urban Institute, which she directed, managed and led for four years.
 
An avid sports fan, Mednick has worked at both volunteer and senior levels for the Olympics and Commonwealth games. She was the Manager of Canada House in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the director of Special Events at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and was the Coordinator for 170 athletes who were ambassadors for Toronto’s Olympic Bid. Mednick created and co-edited, the bestselling book, Heroes in Our Midst, Top Canadian Athletes Share Personal Stories from Their Lives in Sport, inspired by the hundreds of athletes with whom she worked.

Mednick holds an M.A. from Oxford University in Politics and Economics, a Law Degree from Osgoode Hall and an Associate Teacher’s Diploma from Trinity College in London, England.

Mednick’s story is one of tenacity, of building relationships across an ocean and of communities learning from one another. Using Pencils for Kids as a template, she challenges all those who have ever had a dream, to stop thinking and theorizing and to just get out there and make it happen. Her passionate and moving presentations leave audiences feeling motivated, inspired and empowered to make a difference in their own lives, one step at a time.

• 2. Changing The World - Get Out Your Hammer and Chisel

  Mednick shares the many business and life lessons that were learned after she jumped heart-first into the world of international development in Niger with no experience, knowledge or connections, when she discovered that 30 children in one class were sharing one pencil. She learned how to break down any obstacles in her way, how to "do it afraid", how to fundraise without asking, how to start a charity from scratch and how to connect with a community that was culturally, geographically and politically miles apart from her own. Perhaps the most important lesson she learned was that we cannot wait for others to make a difference in the world. The question is "why not me”?

• 1. Changing Your World - It All Begins With You

  How do you fulfill the burning desire inside to do something meaningful with your life? Where do you start? Mednick tells audiences how she jumped back into the workforce after being a stay at home mom for 15 years, and how volunteering, persistence and the refusal to see obstacles, led her to discover her passions and purpose.  She believes that taking one step at a time, even if you don't know where you are going, can lead you to living the life of your dreams.

• Robin Mednick was invited back to speak again. Her presentation this year was selected by the students as the best they ever heard. I agreed with their assessment. You could hear a pin drop when Robin started speaking about how she started Pencils for Kids. There was not a sound for the entire presentation! I have never witnessed such an attentive group since being associated with Camp Enterprise.I look forward to having Robin back next year, if she is available. A truly amazing person with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and spirit who exemplifies the Rotary Motto, "Service Above Self".

  Rotary Club of Burlington

• Robin Mednick is a unique social entrepreneur who out of her own sense of caring discovered in herself the power of one person to make positive change for many. Through her extraordinary skill in bringing people, ideas and resources together Robin has touched many diverse worlds including international sporting events, global talk radio, urban regeneration in Canada and the grassroots development of educational facilities in Africa and therefore has many fascinating stories to tell. And she does so with a passion, indeed an engaging exuberance that leaves her audiences with an exciting sense of the possibilities of the human enterprise and a strong motivation to investigate their own opportunities to get involved. Don't miss her!

   

  Hon. David Crombie, P.C.O.C.

• Robin Mednick is a rare and selfless individual.  Her work for Pencils for Kids, helping to educate children in Liboré, Niger, Africa, is an example of how an individual can triumph and bring enlightenment to the world.  Articulate, thoughtful and inspiring - Robin is a remarkable Canadian, an exceptional speaker who has engaging and uplifting real-life stories that captivate and enthrall her listeners.

  The Spirituelle Divas Organization

• Robin Mednick spoke at the Eastern Canada Region Spring Conference of Soroptimist International of the Americas and held her audience spellbound with her topic about the charity organization Pencils for Kids, which she founded and administers in Liboré, Africa. Robin spoke articulately and passionately about the organization and the awe-inspiring work they do for disadvantaged children. 

  Soroptimist International of the Americas

• Our organization had the pleasure of having Robin Mednick at our AGM last June and what a motivating experience that was for everyone. Mrs. Mednick is very charismatic and truly believes in the power of the people helping people to achieve great things. In a short little while, she was able to convey the issues, the needs and her envisioned solutions to both. I would recommend that you bring her to speak at one of your gatherings to raise awareness and make your people think about more than the next thing on their to-do list.

  PMI Durham Highlands Chapter of Ontario

• Robin is very eloquent and has the ability to inspire, motivate and capture everyone’s attention with her inspirational words, charisma and stage presence. Her message is crystal clear and she delivers it with energy, enthusiasm and passion, creating genuine excitement in the crowd.

  Molly Killingbeck, Canadian Olympian

• I had the great honour of working with Robin at the Global Developmental Village. She exudes enthusiasm, confidence with a great blend of humbleness and a warm and caring rapport with her audience. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her story is captivating. She brings hope and a belief that nothing is impossible.

  Stepping Stones Educational Services

• We were so fortunate to hear Robin's story about how Pencil's for Kids began at our 2010 National coach workshop. Her ability to see no barriers and make things happen was such a great message for our women coaches who are striving to make a meaningful contribution in the coaching profession. Robin's message is from the heart, and makes us believe in possibilities.

  Coaching Association of Canada

• We have had Robin Mednick as a speaker at the Weston Lions Club on two occasions. Her presentation is very professional but more importantly she is a passionate and motivating speaker. She makes you feel like you have been to where she is talking about and understand the situation those people have had to live with.

  Weston Lions Club

• I have had the pleasure of knowing Robin for a decade and I have always been amazed how much she is driven by helping others.  It seems that she is most inspired when she is looking outside of herself. Recently, we interviewed Robin on our radio show and I was reminded how authentic she is. Even though she was there to promote Pencils for Kids she did it in a way that feels real. Listeners take notice because Robin displayed passion by sharing moving stories of others. Robin has the ability to make everyone around her feel like a celebrity and to feel encouraged.

  Rob Snoek, Olympic/Paralympic Broadcaster

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  September 2001

  Heroes in Our Midst: Top Canadian Athletes Share Personal Stories from Their Lives in Sport

  Heroes in Our Midst is a collection of 110 personal stories from top Canadian athletes. Every contribution is a story, with something inspiring, heartbreaking, funny, or fascinating to say. Contributors range in age from 15 (diver Alexandre Despatie) to 90 (runner Ray Lewis). Sharing their personal stories are Gaetan Boucher, Charmaine Crooks, Sylvie Fréchette, Curtis Hibbard, Daniel Igali, Curtis Joseph, Silken Laumann, Marnie McBean, Elaine Tanner, Mark Tewksbury, and Debbie Wilkes. The variety of stories is truly amazing, and every one has the power to inspire or delight.